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Dale Lodge Hotel in Grasmere is a building of historical significance. It was built in the early 1800s and was a private residence until about 1900. It was used mainly by the Townsend-Farquhar family and particularly by the two dowager ladies Lady Maria Farquhar followed by her daughter in law Lady Erica Farquhar. When the second Lady Farquhar died the property was sold and it became a hotel. ==Lady Maria Farquhar== Lady Maria Farquhar was born Maria Frances Geslin de Latour in India in about 1790. Her father was Francis Latour a business man of Madras. Her father died in 1808 in London and in the following year she married Sir Robert Townsend-Farquhar who was about fifteen years older than she was. They had only one child Sir Walter Minto Townsend-Farquhar. Sir Robert Farquhar had a very distinguished career. He became Governor of Mauritius in 1810 and remained there until 1823.〔History of Parliament. Online reference http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1820-1832/member/townsend-farquhar-sir-robert-1776-1830〕 It was during this time that Maria met Letitia Luff a friend of William Wordsworth who had immigrated with her husband Charles to Mauritius from the Lake District in 1812.〔 p. 47.〕 Charles died three years later in 1815 but Letitia remained in Mauritius until 1824 when she returned to the Lake District and rented a house near Ambleside called Fox Ghyll which is still there today. Sir Robert Farquhar died in 1830 and Maria was a widow at the age of only 40. She visited her friend Letitia Luff at Fox Ghyll as William Wordsworth’s sister-in-law Sarah Hutchinson mentions this in her letters.〔Hutchinson, Sarah 1954 “The letters of Sara Hutchinson from 1800 to 1835”, p. 388.〕 It is probably during these visits that Lady Farquhar came to know William Wordsworth. In 1832 he gave her a book of his poetry with an inscription on the title page which is shown on the left. The inscription reads “To Lady Townshend Farquhar / in token of affectionate Regard / from her / Sincere Friend / Wm Wordsworth / Rydal Mount / 14th Novbr 1832.” In 1834 Maria married Thomas Hamilton who was a retired military Captain and author of several books. She however retained her title of Lady Farquhar. The couple moved to Elleray in the Lake District and became part of the Wordsworth’s social circle.〔University of Glasgow, Thomas Hamilton (1789-1842). Online reference http://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/critical/research/fundedresearchprojects/georgianglasgow/georgianglasgowpeople/hamilton/〕 In 1842 they went on a tour of the Continent but unfortunately Thomas died in Italy. He was buried in Florence and Lady Farquhar returned home. She moved from Elleray to Dale Lodge which at that time was called Dale Cottage. Shortly after this Letitia Luff moved in with her and the two widows lived together at Dale Lodge for many years. Maria died in 1875 and the cottage passed to her daughter in law Lady Erica Farquhar. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Dale Lodge Hotel」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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