The Kepplewray Trust
The History of The Kepplewray Centre in the Lake District
The Kepplewray Centre has a fascinating history, stretching from a Victorian country house built for a wealthy industrialist, through its use as a school for disabled children, to its present role as a pioneering Christian outdoor activity centre.
What makes its history particularly interesting is that inclusion of disabled and nondisabled people was central to its Christian vision from the very beginning, rather than being something added later.
The original house — 1899
Kepplewray was built in 1899 for William Barratt, a wealthy industrialist, on a hillside overlooking Broughton-in-Furness, near the entrance to the Duddon Valley. The substantial three-storey mansion stood in extensive grounds and reflected the prosperity of the late Victorian period.
A particularly interesting local history publication, Bringing Broughton Together, records some personal recollections of life at Kepplewray. During the Second World War, the house belonged to Colonel Dykes.
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A woman who had been evacuated from Barrow as a seven-year-old remembered living on the top floor with
her aunt, who worked as the Colonel's housekeeper. She recalled his kindness in allowing her to use his extensive library and the fruit and vegetables grown in the grounds during wartime rationing.
A school for disabled children...
At some point after its use as a private residence, Kepplewray became a residential special school. It was operated by Lancashire education authorities and catered for disabled girls. One former employee recalled working there during the 1960s.
Eventually the school closed, and the building stood empty for a considerable period. By the late 1980s it had become seriously neglected, with overgrown grounds and interiors requiring extensive refurbishment.
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