Not just a building...
Kelsick Grammar School was built in 1906 with money from the Kelsick Educational Foundation. The Kelsick Trust was established as part of the will of John Kelsick who died aged 24 in 1723. It was set up to help young people from the local parish and community achieve their potential through educational activities. The Kelsick Trust still exists today and is based in Ambleside.
Kelsick Co-educational Grammar School was open from 1907 to 1965. Because of the rising costs of education, it was decided that students had to pass an examination to attend. When the comprehensive style of education took off in the 1960s the grammar school was no longer needed and in 1966, Charlotte Mason College bought Kelsick Grammar. Charlotte Mason College had been based in Ambleside since 1892 and they used the site to expand their teacher training campus. It was during this time that a young David Williams attended the college as a student. Charlotte Mason College eventually became part of the University of Cumbria and the building at Kelsick was sold to developers in 2012.
Fast forward to 2017 and the building had been empty for over five years. It was in a state of extreme disrepair, all the windows were broken, the building was damp and even the squatters had left. David Williams was now CEO of the global experiential development organisation, Impact . He saw Kelsick's potential to once again be a centre for education, learning and community and decided to buy the site.
His action saved Kelsick from demolition. In the seven years that followed the old school building was lovingly restored. The main building is now Impact's global headquarters and also provides coworking and meeting spaces for freelancers, organisations and local groups. In June 2023 Force Café was also opened, providing the most delicious (and welcome) refreshments for walkers visiting Stock Ghyll Waterfalls, Wansfell and the surrounding area.
Kelsick is more than just a building. It's a place where the past meets the present, and our hopes for the future are brought to life.