Lawson Park’s buildings and grounds are now used as a professional residency base and induction point for anyone visiting and working with Grizedale Arts. The site is also used for independent research purposes including archival, literary, artistic, historical and horticultural research by a range of visiting practitioners – whether visiting in groups or as individuals.
The best way to familiarise yourself with our interests, influences, history and expertise is to visit Lawson Park and to browse the library shelves in person. When this is not possible, this website provides an opportunity to view the material included, and to read and view as much as we are able to make available online.
The books and films in Lawson Park library are grouped into broad, contingent categories that continue to evolve. They are included on the basis of the same policy that informs the Design Collection: They might relate to our projects, reference ideas that have contributed to our ethos, be intended to generate conversation or to inform and suggest avenues for future projects and research.
We also have a large collection of instructional booksl, including many cookery books and a selection of manuals, encyclopedias and D.I.Y guides covering architecture, art, gardening, craft, clothing and medicine – all of which are included not only for their brilliance in practical advice and application to daily living at Lawson Park, but also for their capacity to demonstrate the ways in which various practices and disciplines are developing (or in fact, sometimes stagnating or vanishing).
Beyond this we receive a good number of books as gifts from colleagues, friends and strangers. Whenever relevant these are integrated - but due to limited space - only if their content to be genuinely illuminating, or vitally useful.
We are always looking for new material to include, and especially welcome suggestions for material that could further diversify and radicalise our informal syllabus. We are also interested in hearing about potential projects and collaborations with other libraries, archives and estates. If you would like to know more about the library, or suggest material you think we should include, please be in touch with us at info@grizedale.org.
Lawson Park Electronic Library is a Guestroom project for Grizedale Arts, designed and built by Dorian Moore