Low Ludderburn was a house by Windermere which the Ransomes bought on 2 March 1925 after they returned from their voyage to Egypt. They wanted a place in the Lake District, heard of a cottage at Windemeer and bought it at once, for 350 pounds. But they had to sell Racundra, and also they purchased a Trojan car (see Rattletrap). It was called Low Ludderburn because there was a house called High Ludderburn higher up the fell. Arthur said the cottage was on very high ground but sheltered from the north, overlooking the whole valley of the Winster. There were two rooms on each of the two floors, and a leanto for a kitchen. The upper story of the adjacent barn became the best workroom that he ever had.
They were given a silver-grey tabby cat by a nearby farmer; they kept two of her three kittens. Polly and Podge stayed with them for life.
It was a small, primitive cottage, and the damp climate did not agree with Evegina. . After the success of Coot Club they decided to sell. In 1935 they sold it and moved to Pin Mill on the East Coast, where they could sail on the Broads.
References
- The Life of Arthur Ransome by Hugh Brogan pp 286-293 & 349-350 (1984, Jonathan Cape, London) ISBN 0-224-02010-2