Did You Know?
💡 Graphite was discovered near Keswick in the 16th century, leading to the world's first pencil industry.
Nearby Areas We Cover
Cockermouth, Penrith, Ambleside, Grasmere, Borrowdale, Bassenthwaite
Local History
About Keswick, Cumbria
Keswick is a market town in the heart of the Lake District National Park, beautifully situated at the northern end of Derwentwater and beneath the slopes of Skiddaw. The town has ancient origins and has been a market centre for the surrounding farming communities since at least the 13th century, when it received its market charter.
The area around Keswick has the distinction of being the source of the world's first pencil industry. Pure graphite (then called 'wad') was discovered in the Borrowdale valley in the 16th century and found to be ideal for making marks. A pencil-making industry grew up in Keswick and the surrounding area, celebrated today through the Cumberland Pencil Museum. This remarkable story of industrial innovation began in the fells above Keswick and spread to influence the entire world.
Keswick has strong associations with the Romantic movement in English literature. Samuel Taylor Coleridge lived at Greta Hall from 1800 to 1803, writing some of his greatest work here. Robert Southey also lived at Greta Hall and served as Poet Laureate. Today Keswick is one of England's most visited tourist destinations, with the Theatre by the Lake and the Keswick Mountain Festival among its many cultural highlights.
Hoarding disorder and the need for house clearance affect people in every community across Cumbria — including Keswick. Whether you're dealing with a bereavement, a difficult tenancy, or a property that has simply accumulated too much over the years, our team brings the same professional, compassionate approach to every clearance we carry out.