Nancy Blackett | The Nancy Blackett Trust

Barge Growler restoration underway with help from the Nancy Blackett Trust

22nd September 20213rd October 2019

Restoration of the barge Growler has just passed an important milestone with the insertion of the first piece of new timber into the hull. It’s one of 10 new frames, using oak timber bought with …

As it happened: the Pigeon Post Marathon Reading in Coniston Coppermines

29th September 201929th September 2019

Here are some of the highlights of today’s Marathon Reading of Pigeon Post in the Coniston Coppermines Youth Hotel, as told by some of the participants. Please note: to see any single full-size photograph, click …

A marathon reading of Pigeon Post is coming to Coniston Coppermines

28th September 2019

A marathon reading of Arthur Ransome’s classic story Pigeon Post is happening near Coniston tomorrow (29th September). The all-day event starts at 8am at the Coniston Coppermines Youth Hostel and has been organised by writer …

Libby Purves to give the first Brian Hammett Memorial Talk

3rd January 202019th September 2019

Update (January 3rd 2020): Please note that plans for this event are currently under reconsideration due to the illness of our proposed speaker Libby Purves. We hope Libby will be recovered and well enough to fulfil …

Photo story: Nancy Blackett’s summer sailing

15th September 2019

Nancy Blackett has had a busy summer of sailing trips for members of the Trust along the East Coast, from local daytrips and overnight stays on the Rivers Orwell and Stour, to venturing further afield …

Photo story: Exploring Holly Howe from “Swallows and Amazons”

8th September 2019

Earlier this summer author Marc Grimston explored Bank Ground Farm on the eastern shore of Coniston Water, best known as the model for “Holly Howe” in Swallows and Amazons, home of Swallow and the farmhouse where …

Video: By Steam Launch to Octopus Lagoon

31st August 2019

Earlier this week Greg Simpson borrowed the steam launch Bruin for a run down the River Crake from Coniston Water to Allan Tarn (Octopus Lagoon in Swallows and Amazons) as seen in this short video:

Finding the Dog’s Home from “The Picts and the Martyrs”

19th October 201925th August 2019

Earlier this summer author Marc Grimston went in search of the Dog’s Home, a small stone hut in woods that was a location in The Picts and the Martyrs, the eleventh and last completed book …

Swallows and Amazons events for the rest of the summer and beyond

22nd September 202118th August 2019

With two weeks of the summer holidays still to go, there are still plenty of Swallows and Amazons activities left to do, some of which continue into the autumn or beyond. For theatre-goers, Swallows and …

Video: A Swallows and Amazons Adventure Swim to Wild Cat Island

18th August 2019

Coniston-based adventurer Sean Conway swims to and explores Wild Cat Island (Peel Island, Coniston Water) in this video below. Click the loudspeaker icon in the video playback controls to turn on the sound.

Obituary: Hugh Brogan, Arthur Ransome’s biographer

9th August 2019

Hugh Brogan, who died on 26th July at the age of 83, was a distinguished historian – Emeritus Professor at Essex University – but will be remembered outside academia chiefly for his role as the …

In photos: “Swallows and Amazons” the York Theatre Royal

22nd September 20212nd August 2019

It’s the end of the first week of “Swallows and Amazons” on stage at York’s Theatre Royal, so here are some photos of the production. There are also photos below of the theatre foyer decked …