Hammerbank?

[stan gill]

I recall going to Hammarbank in the late 50's early 60's on school trips from Openshaw Technical High school in Manchester with teachers.

we use to arrive at Windermere train station and were frogmarched with our luggage down to the hostel somewhere between the town and the 'back' Bowness road. I recall we used to enter down a long winding drive up to the hostel in amongst many, many trees and bushes.

I went probably 5 or 6 times either Easter, Summer or both and have nothing but good memories although I also recall struggling up many of the mountains, Langdale Pike, Hellvelyn, Coniston Old Man, Scafell etc as a 12,13,14 yr old.

I recall it was run by the National Association of Boys Clubs and we shared our trips with groups from other schools and clubs - we even had girls to contend with - very exciting. More exiciting I saw my first bats at Hammarbank screaming around in the failing light.

Out during the day with our own groups we mingled with the others at breakfast time and evening time making friends and/or enemies depending where we all hailed from, and for the really bold a romance or two with the girls.

For the brave and harty there were trips down to the lake, leaving the hostel grounds through a small gate onto the Bowness road, where there was a staked off section close to the shore that acted as a swimming pool (or ice box easter ans summer). Go outside the stakes and the sides of the 'pool' plummeted to the depths - you had to be class show off for that whilst shaking inwardly.

Over the years with trips up to Windermere with my family I have mentioned the hostel but never been quite able to place it although I know the general area it is in.

From the links I now know all I need to do is Google Windermere manor, which I have, and the photo does not look any different to what I remember, except we never has a bride in white hanging over the portico balcony.