Wray Castle, Low Wray

Wray Castle at Low Ray on the western shore of Windermere in the Lake District, Cumbria.
This Gothic style house was built in 1840 for a retired surgeon, James Dawson. After Dawson's death in 1875 the estate was inherited by his fifteen year old nephew, Edward Preston Rawnsley. In 1877 Edward's cousin, Hardwicke Rawnsley, who was to become one of the founder members of the National Trust, took up the appointment of vicar of the neighbouring Wray Church.
In 1882, a sixteen year old Beatrix Potter stayed at Wray Castle on a family holiday to the Lake District. There she met Hardwick Rawnsley, who became her mentor and good friend.