Hardwicke Rawnsley (1851) was an Oxford scholar; among his friends were John Ruskin and, later in life, Beatrix Potter. He was vicar at St. Kentigern’s, Crosthwaite and whist there he and his wife founded the School of Industrial Art in Keswick; he was also instrumental in establishing Newton Rigg Farm School in Penrith, the Westmorland Nursing Association and Keswick High School.
In 1891 he became an Honorary Canon of Carlisle Cathedral and Chaplain to the King in 1912.
Rawnsley was a great champion of the Lake District, and crusaded for the formation of the National Trust, for which he worked unceasingly as Hon. Secretary for 26 years.
As the writer of more than 30,000 sonnets he was one of their most prolific writers ever; he also wrote many books on the Lake District.
He retired to Grasmere in 1917, where he bought Allan Bank, now a National Trust property and Wordsworth’s previous abode. He died there in 1920 and is buried in Crosthwaite. A plaque to his memory is set into a wall beside the Friars’ Crag path.