Insider's guide Arnside obsessed! The small seaside village with it all, Arnside is no longer one of 's best kept secrets

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The Prornenade

here is something in the sea air woods and field paths. developed from a few farms and cottages to in Arnside. It is palpable, a Tucked away in the furthest corner of south become a small fishing port. In 1841just 140 knowingness among those who Cumbria, they have no concerns about people lived there. live and work here. Like they accessibility either, just minutes from the M6 It was the arrival of the Crossfield family's are party to something the rest and with their own train station offeringa house building business that saw the village of us are not. direct service to Lancaster and Manchester grow out from what is now The Promenade. They have views - as sharp as a bell in the Airport, and from there, well, the world. They also built boats, in particular a type of crisp winter air - of the Lakeland fells, Not that they need it with the range of in-shore fishing vessel known as a nobby, snow-cappedat this time of year. They have independent shops, galleries, pubs and used for catching shrimp, for which the coast with its intrigue of fast tides and restaurants. was known from early shiftingsand, as well as superb wildlife That feeling in the air is contentment. In Victorian times. watchingopportunities in an Area of Outstand- Arnside. they really do seem to have it all. Later, it is believed that author Arthur ing Natural Beauty. Not to mention spectacular Increasingly, the rest of us are being Ransome's 'Swallow' was built in Arnside and sunsets.And behind the village are the attracted to the village too and, in summer in was sailed on the estuary in the 1930sby a delightsof Silverdale's quiet country lanes, particular, The Promenade is lined with cars, local teenager. the water's edge busy, the path to Arnside The arrival of the Barrow-Lancaster railway 'In Arnside, they really Knott well worn by those seeking an easy hike —the Furness line - that is carried over the do seem to have it all. that rewards with panoramic views across River Kent estuary on a 505m long viaduct Increasingly, the rest of us Morecambe Bay to the mountains, as well as with 50 piers, impacted the most on Arnside. wildflowersand butterflies supported by a Built in 1857,the line brought wealthier are being attracted to the mild climate. Victorian holidaymakers who turned it into a village too' With its position on the estuary. Arnside mini resort. The pier was built in 1860.and the

CUMBRIA LIFE / FEBRUARY2021 / 59 The view from The Prot1E*

need to. You still Cocks. bookend The Promenade. Fora road to Sandside ten years later. train to London easily when I village. it has no shortage of The railway line was rebuilt in 1915to feel connected here. the stationat support the extra weight of the munition trains "I didn't know a single person when I came stops. They begin opposite from Barrow, Similarly, the pier was rebuilt, and it took a while to be known, but I always Wayside Café (formerly the wonderful first in 1934but this was because it was found people to be friendly; it's an accepting Moochin' About Jazz Café). destroyed in a storm; the same thing place and very inclusive." On to the seafront and there is the Wagi happened in 1983and it was rebuilt and Victoria works long hours for a range of Café and Deli which comes with an endor• reopened a year later. business clients. as well as doing family ment for its pies: the Old Bakehouse,with a The oldest building is Arnside Tower, photography and covering events and regular queue: the Posh Sardine vintagetea as a defence to exhibitions. 15thCentury pele tower built and it is when she needs a break room and gift shop (inside knowledge:it's' Scottishraiders. that Arnside really delivers. She explains: "I anagram of Arnside Shop): and ArnsideCh:; Today,around 2,500people live in Arnside. can walk down to The Albion for a sundowner, Shop, which has become legendaryfor its One of them, commercial photographer chat to a few people and walk back home Arnside Chippy Victoria Sedgwick, came ten years ago after knowingit's taken hardly app. any time out of my of plenty enrolling her eldest daughter Philippa as an day but feeling For a tiny high street, there are really topped up." from internationalboarder at DallamSchool. The The Albion, shops —all independent - to choose together with Ye Olde familywas living in Portugal at the time and Fighting The Little Shop for gifts and cards. Arnsjde had no connectionwith Cumbria. Walkingaround It was by chance that Victoriacame across Arnsideis a Arnsideand its pier "It blewmy mind,"she says. "I just thought, I love it here, it has so much soul, I could live here." A year to the day. she moved to the village. initially renting then later buying her maisonette at the top of SilverdaleRoad. 6, She says: "It's fully home now, we are fully embeddedand Arnsideobsessed." It was the water that had such a profound effecton her. "I have always been close to water and have realised now that I do have to be close to water. I also like the fact that the propertiesare different.there's no chance of having normality here, and that I can get on a Arnside Insider's gu ide

House and The Coast Office gift shops. The CountryShop with menswear and womens- wear ranges, and She Sells 'eco chic' boutique. which specialises in pre-loved designerwear. Ell GalleryH brings together an international collectionof contemporary and traditional works of fine art. furniture, jewellery. Ossware and silverware. Running at degreesto The Promenade,visitors should not miss out Pier Lane Gallery. which is run for artists by artists Caren Threlfall and Peter nrelfall and photographer Trevor Brown. In another partnership Lee Waddington restoresfurniture while his wife Leanneis an expertin upholstery. as well as sourcing new furnitureand home accessories to sell in their showroom at Waddington Horne Interiors. The newestbusiness in the village is HomeleighVintage, opened in September by TraceyLeigh, who relocated from Skipton whereshe ran a successful mid-century vinta* furnitureand fabrics business. With a backgroundin interior design.she curates an impressiverange of high-end gifts and homewarewith brands like Nkuku, Garden Trading,Falcon enamelware, Crispin Finn's red. white and blue range. Wanderlust Paper Companyand FAR candles. plus fabrics by G P & J Baker,Designers Guild and Schumacher. "I wanteda change and loved the area having visited a couple of times," explains Simon Whorrall,who led Arnside's Tracey."l viewed a property and as soon as I The Albion, Arnside coronavirus response sawit I wanted it. Then when the shop over the road became available as well I thought it transformed into ten luxury apartments within hold. would be ideal for my business. a Grade Il listed Georgianvilla and 2.5 acres of With many elderly residents having no -When I moved I didn't know anyone but private gardens overlookingthe shoreline with relatives nearby. the group organised 070 the people are lovely, really friendly and have spectacular views. deliveries a day of groceries, medications and been helpfuland encouraging to me. giving It was during the first lockdown that hot meals on a Mondayproduced for free by me good compliments about the shop." Arnside really came together as a community. the chef at The Albion and funded by the pub Continuingalong past the end of The In less than a day. more than people and EWGA.The Arnside Volunteering Group Promenade. a favourite stop is Arnside Beach answered a COVII)-19call for help after an (AVG)mobilised 25 local teachers who formed Hut. It has been there since the 1950s but had appeal was issued on social media by IT the home education forum to help children beenclosed for nearly four years before the consultantSimon Whorrall. With him at the and parents home-school,while other newowners took it on last summer and now helm, the volunteers took over the Sailing volunteers made thousands of items of PPEat offera welcome coffee. tea or hot chocolate on Club as their headquarters to organise homeand in the Women'sInstitute. a chilly day with a delicious cake, and ice primary services. with some working 1.3-hour Victoria,who contractedCOVID.19 herself cream in summer. days, seven days a week, without a day off in early in the pandemic, volunteered to record Nearby Ashmeadow House is being months as the impact of the pandemic took the incrediblecommunity effort in a series of photographs,'action' shots of the voluntary work and doorstep pictures of families at home. At the time Simon said: "People are rightly proud of their efforts and to be part of this community. We have managed to harness a wonderful sense of community spirit, with friendships that will last a lifetime. which we will be taking into the future." Victoriaadds: "It brought the community together in an incredible, supportive way. People who didn't talk to each other do now; everybody is part of Arnside."

victoriasedgwick.com; @homeleighuntage; ashmeadowhouse.co.uk

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