The Dalemain Marmalade Festival and Awards Returns for May 2022
The World’s Original Marmalade Awards & Festival has been held at the stunning Dalemain Mansion in Penrith since it was founded by Jane Hasell-McCosh in 2005. The famous festival is set to return to the country house on Saturday 14 May, welcoming marmalade lovers and creators from all over the world!
The main part of the festival is announcing the winner of the awards. The winning marmalade is then put on sale alongside displaying the other competition marmalades in the house’s state rooms for buying and tasting. The awards ceremony is then followed by a day of cookery demonstrations, Q&A’s, marmalade tasting, stalls and children’s activities. The event will also raise funds for the Hospice at Home Carlisle and North Lakeland, providing opportunities throughout the day for the public to support the local charity. The festival is the perfect excuse for a family day out, a marmalade shopping and tasting experience and a chance to explore the beautiful Staley home and gardens.
Don’t forget to visit the Dalemain Shop and Medieval Tea-Room where you can taste and buy Dalemain’s very own range of marmalade and scones that have been created on site using a secret 17th century recipe from the Dalemain archives!
The Worlds Original Marmalade Awards & Festival 2022 takes place on 14 May at Dalemain Mansion between 10am-4pm. Tickets are available to buy at Dalemain.com and cost £6.50. Tickets include entry to the Mansion and Marmalade displays with the option to visit the Gardens.
The History of Dalemain
Dalemain Mansion is now well known for it’s famous marmalade festival, however the stately home has an extensive history before the awards existed. The house originated from a defensive pele tower in the 12th century. The tower was then extended during Elizabeth I’s reign with a hall and two wings, making the tower a manor house. The main thing that stands out about the mansion today is its unique, pink Georgian Façade that was added to the house in the mid- 18th century. Sir Edward Hasell bought the mansion in 1680 with help from his employer Lady Anne Clifford. The Hasell family still own Dalemain today, making the mansion a lived in family home.
Amazing Features to Spot in Dalemain
Dalemain Mansion is made up of grand rooms, quaint stairways and winding passages you could get lost in. The house and gardens also boasts a lot of unique features that makes the mansion special; see how many you can spot on your visit…
- The Chinese Room
Sir Edward’s son, Edward, created the Chinese Room in the 18th century decorating the walls with intricately hand painted wallpaper, displaying colourful birds, insects and flowers. The wallpaper was brought to Dalemain in Tea Clippers from China in 1757. The impressive, original wallpaper is still on display in the Chinese Room today, alongside ancient furniture and fittings.
- The Fretwork Room
The Tudor Fretwork Room is particularly interesting due to its magnificent 16th century plaster ceilings and stunning oak panelling.
- Priests hiding hole…
In the 16th century, Dalemain belonged to the Layton family who were staunch Catholics. During the reign of Elizabeth I, Catholicism was a forbidden practice and Catholics were persecuted by law. In order to keep practicing their faith in secret, the family created a priests hiding hole, which was a common feature in Catholic houses at the time. Dalemain’s priests hiding hole was not discovered until the 19th century, making it well hidden! Can you find it?
- Himalayan Blue Poppies…
Explore over 5 acres of Dalemain’s landscape and gardens and find the famous Himalayan Blue Poppy. This strain of flower is particular to Dalemain and is best found during May-July. Visitors can take home their own clippings of the famous flower.
