The Grot And Waterfall

Sir Daniel Fleming built the Grot, or grotto, in 1668 as a place to frame and enjoy the spectacular Rydal Falls. It is one of Britain’s earliest examples of a viewing station.

William Wordsworth was particularly fond of the Grot. He wrote about it in his early poem ‘An Evening Walk’, and he visited with his nephew shortly before his death.

The view of Rydal Falls

From the window, you can see a stone bridge across Rydal Beck, which Sir Daniel Fleming built in 1682. It probably replaced an earlier wooden bridge. Below it, the beck drops as a waterfall, called Low Falls, into a plunge pool. It then continues through a gorge, which frames Rydal Falls and casts shade over the scene.

History of the Grot

Sir Daniel Fleming built this small, Grade II* listed building in 1668–9. In his accounts, he called it the ‘Grot’ and ‘my Grott-House’. It is a simple stone building with a door on the south side. On the north side, a large window looks out over the waterfall, the plunge pool and the bridge above.

Originally, the interior had wooden panelling. In fact, Sir Daniel’s accounts show that the panelling and glazing cost more than the rest of the building.

In 1692, Rev. Thomas Machell described it as ‘a little grotto… [for] retirement’, and he called the view of the falls ‘very surprising’.

Sir Daniel also commissioned a painting of the view from the window in 1682.

Overall, this building is unique: it is Britain’s earliest known purpose-built viewing station.