- Belle Isle (Windermere)
Belle Isle is the largest of 18 islands on the lake Windermere in the English
Lake District and the only one ever to have been inhabited.fact|date=April 2008 It is 1km in length. Belle Isle House, was built in 1774 to designs byJohn Plaw , it is unusual in that it is circular in plan, built of brick, three floors high with a four columnportico . [cite web|url=http://www.lake-district.gov.uk/index/enjoying/windermere/windermere_outonthelake/windermere-islands.htm|title=Windermere Islands|publisher=Lake District National Park] [cite web|url=http://www.thecumbriadirectory.com/Tourist_Attractions/Historic_Houses_and_Buildings/Belle_Isle_Round_House/Belle_Isle_Round_House.php |title=Belle Isle Round House|publisher=The Cumbria Directory]The Roman governor at
Ambleside built a villa on the island. It was a Royalist stronghold during theEnglish Civil War . It was known locally as the Great Island or Long Holme, but it was sold to Isabella Curwen in 1781 for £1,720 and was renamed after her. [cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/cumbria/content/articles/2006/07/10/windermere_islands_2006_feature.shtml|title=The islands of Windermere|publisher=BBC|date=July 10 2006] The descendants of Isabella and her husband John Christian Curwen lived on the island until 1993.In 1996, Belle Isle House suffered serious damage following a large fire. However, it was repaired and is once again a place of residence. [cite web|url=http://www.timetravel-britain.com/articles/country/lake.shtml|title=Journeying Through Time on Lake Windermere|publisher=timetravel-britain.com]
Belle Island is currently owned by Harold and Janet Lefton.
References
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