History
Pooley Bridge was occupied by the Roman’s who built a clay banked canal system to bring iron ore from the fell down to the river Eamont. This was then transported 6 miles down river to be smelted.
Pooley Bridge held a fish market since the 1100’s, the village was known until 1764 as “Powley“, which meant pool by the hill. In 1764 the current three arch bridge was completed and since then the village became known as Pooley Bridge.
In the tearoom we have a map which is dated 1687 which shows part of Granny Dowbekin’s™ property in existence. We have been able to trace every transaction for the property since then to present day, thanks to the endeavours of John Towler, the owner in the 1980’s. The property was until the early 1900’s a blacksmith’s workshop, until 1904 when the bay window was completed by the housekeepers of Leeming House Hotel who lived on the premises. From 1904 the site has served cream tea’s and originally hired out rowing boats from the river bank.
Since then it has always been a tea room, and from the 1930’s to 1998 offered accommodation also. In 2000 the Hindle family from Blackburn purchased the property. We were inspired by our Great Grandmother Sarah Dowbekin whose original recipe book we still have on the premises, and decided to rename the tearoom as Granny Dowbekin’s™. In 2001 we made the tea garden safer and better by landscaping and paving it, making it a firm favourite in the area, and visited now by 30,000 people per annum.
The name Dowbekin originates from a hamlet just outside of Sedbergh called Dowbiggin, the family tree can be traced back to 1487.