A Lake District hotel is on the market for £4.25 million.
Applegarth Villa Hotel, in the centre of Windermere village, is currently owned by the Mumford family and is being sold by Christie & Co.
The five star boutique hotel has 22 luxury suites, bar and restaurant.
It was built in 1891 by John Rigg.
Plans to take the railway line all the way to Keswick faced public opposition, including Poet Laureate William Wordsworth who wrote: “Is then no nook of English ground secure from rash assault?” and the railway made it no further than Windermere.
Eager to capitalise on the influx of visitors that the railway brought to the area, the Rigg family built the Riggs Hotel – now the Windermere Hotel – next to the station and also operated the coaching service carrying the Royal Mail and visitors further into the Lake District.
At their peak, the family operated five hotels in the area and ran a stable with over 200 horses.
The success of the family business is reflected in the opulence of the Applegarth, which is one of the finest Victorian villas of its kind in the UK.
Suzanne Mumford said: “It has been a true privilege to own Applegarth Villa and we have worked tirelessly to develop a very successful luxury hotel in the heart of Windermere.
“It has been our privilege to work to preserve and maintain the Applegarth as one of the most important properties of its kind, reflecting the wealth and success of one of the very first families that brought tourism to the Lake District over 175 years ago.”
Local agent Graham Wilkinson, of specialist business property adviser Christie & Co, added: “I am delighted to be working with Suzanne and the family to find new owners for the Applegarth.
“As such a well-known landmark in Windermere as well as a superb business opportunity, it is now a pleasure to look to secure the sale of the business so it can be passed to the next generation of owners who are looking for a superb, luxury hospitality business in the heart of the Lake District.”
