A couple of weeks ago we were having a short break in Grasmere at the impressively titled Grand Hotel. It was lovely to be in the Lakes again. In these Covid times the village centre was inevitably more crowded than it might usually be outside school holidays, but even just a short walk up to Easedale Tarn took us away from the crowds. During our short visit there were a couple of intriguing co-incidences relating to my studies, research, and local history interests. The first related to the Grand Hotel, which isn't actually that big, but does serve wonderful food and has great views from the garden! I hadn't realized that it is now connected to the Grand Hotel in St Anne's. I think that the family company that runs the St Anne's hotel took over the Grand at Grasmere a while ago. Historically speaking, the St Anne's Grand Hotel was one of the two major St Anne’s hotels, the other being the much-mourned Majestic (formerly the Imperial Hydro) which was demolished...