Ann Tysons Guest House / B&B, Hawkshead is a 16th / 17th century Grade 2* Lakeland cottage. It was home to the poet William Wordsworth whilst he attended Hawkshead Grammar School. The historic ancient market town of Hawkshead lies betwixt Windermere, Ambleside and Coniston, near the head of Esthwaite Water, in the heart of the Lake District National Park England. Hawkshead is one of the Lake District's unspoiled treasures. Many enjoy its cobbled streets, picturesque greystone cottages, narrow alleyways and courtyards. Its historic graded buildings and olde worlde hotels / pubs are overlooked by the wooded Lakeland hills and fells. Hawkshead benefits from traffic free streets (ample car parking is provided on the edge of the village), allowing visitors to enjoy the atmosphere of a bygone age.

A settlement existed here from as early as the 10th Century - indeed the name Hawkshead derives from the Norseman 'Haukr' who built its earliest dwellings; the land belonged to Furness Abbey until the 12th century. The village grew into a thriving marketplace in the 17th century and was an important wool market, with many of the buildings we see today dating from that time.

Edwin Sandys, Archbishop of York was born at Esthwaite Hall in 1519, he founded the Hawkshead Grammar School in 1585, attended by the poet William Wordsworth between 1779 and 1787. The school closed in the early 1900's, but is open to visitors during the summer months. Here you can see the desk at which Wordsworth sat, his name deeply carved into the timber.

The church, dedicated to St. Michael, is a large structure, with side aisles and a massive square tower. It stands upon an elevation at the southern end of the market-place, and commands a good view of the vale and lake of Esthwaite. It was founded about the time of the Norman conquest. The Coucher Book of Furness Abbey, mentions Hawkshead Chapel in the year 1200. Today visitors to the church will find a number of fascinating historic artefacts and some remarkable wall paintings that date back to 1860.

The Beatrix Potter gallery can be found here and has some of her original illustrations and drawings displayed. She was a stout naturalist and conservationist and left her farm and land in the District to the National Trust. Hawkshead is a short journey from Tarn Hows which is a local beauty spot. It is a site of special scientific interest.

Street names like Leather, Rag and Putty Street now Wordsworth Street upon which Ann Tysons House is located reflect earlier crafts, while Flag Street gets its name from its flagstones which cover the stream which provided water to householders.

Just outside Hawkshead village to the north visit The Courthouse, the only remains of Hawkshead Hall, a mediaeval manor house built by monks from Furness Abbey.

Take a short walk to the east to Colthouse, where you will find the Quakers Meeting House dating back to 1690 and affording magnificent views of the surrounding hills - Coniston Old Man, Wetherlam and Langdale Pikes in the distance.