Lake District: Fell and Rock Climbing Club lodge library plans

The Fell and Rock-Climbing Club of the English Lake District have submitted a listed building consent application to the Lake District National Park Authority to convert the fuel/archive store at Raw Head farmhouse in Great Langdale into a dedicated library for the club.

According to a heritage statement submitted with the plans Raw Head cottage is a ‘fine example’ of a 17th century farmhouse and has been in the possession of the club for the last 80 years.

Plans say the farmhouse has been used for storage which in recent years has included club archives as well as wood, coal and other materials essential for the maintenance of the property.

The heritage statement says: “As the club moves towards a more sustainable future with less reliance on these types of fuel, this function will become redundant.

“It is also considered that the emphasis must therefore change and since the club now faces a major and urgent challenge of providing a suitable, permanent home for its library and archive, this building is considered to be is entirely suitable for this purpose.”

The Fell and Rock-Climbing Club of the English Lake District (FRCC) was founded in 1906 and today has over 1000 members. The club has also published a range of Lake District climbing guides and other books.

Planning documents add: “The FRCC library and archive is an invaluable and, in some cases, irreplaceable record of the development of mountaineering and climbing internationally, as well as a very significant Lakeland collection.

“To have it housed at Raw Head would be very fitting, not only in terms of accessibility for members, researchers, and the local community but also as a heritage asset for the National Park.”

Plans add the club do not envisage the proposed conversion leading to ‘increased traffic’ and add public access will be by appointed only and under the supervision of the Archivist.

This planning application is under consideration by the LDNPA.