Resources
Where to find information or documents related to Arthur Ransome, his life and works
If you have information on any additional resources, please email the webmaster.
Museums
Abbot Hall, Kirkland, Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 5AL, England
The Museum has a special Ransome Room permanent exhibit which houses the author's desk, some of his books, many of his mementoes and various papers.
Among these papers are the typed draft of Swallows and Amazons, the first ever story that Ransome wrote, aged eight, entitled The Desert Island, unpublished chapters of the Autobiography, and the typescript of the unfinished story, Coots in the North, which has been published in a collection of Ransome's writing of the same name.
The Staithe, Stalham, Norfolk NR12 9DA, England
The Museum has a small display with information about Arthur Ransome and the locations behind those used in the books set in the Norfolk Broads and surrounding area. The Museum also has an interesting selection of boats used in the area, both in dry and wet docks and is worth a visit.
Coppermines Lane, Coniston, Cumbria LA22 0LF, England
Displays explain the physical and human history and geography of Swallows and Amazons country - or the area around Coniston in the Lake District. Mavis/Amazon is currently on display here, following the closure of Windermere Steamboat Museum.
Windermere Steamboats & Museum
Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria, England
The museum owns Esperence, one of the models for Captain Flint's houseboat, as well as a unique collection of Windermere pleasure steamers, many of which would have been a familiar sight on the lake during the 1930s.
Please note that the museum is currently closed for major restoration works, more information about which is available here.
Archives
The Ransome archives are housed in Special Collections, Brotherton Library, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS2 9JT England
Almost all the important documents remaining in Evgenia Ransome's possession at the time of her death were deposited with Special Collections at Brotherton Library. The papers consist of letters; diaries; unpublished drafts and notebooks of all kinds, including sketches for stories and a large number of autobiographical memoranda; drawings, sketchbooks and photographs; printed newspaper articles, and the typewritten drafts for much of Arthur Ransome's journalism, including his reports on the Russian Revolution.
Special Collections Service, The University of Reading, Redlands Road, Reading RG1 5EX U.K. Telephone: +44 (0) 118 378 8660 Fax: +44 (0) 118 378 5632
Email: specialcollections@reading.ac.uk
The archives of Ransome's publisher contain business correspondence, statements of his book sales, and samples of the reviews of his works.
Anyone wishing to use this facility needs prior written permission for access from Random House.
The Fullerton Collection
Cal State Uni The Pollak Library, 800 N State College Blvd, Fullerton, CA 92834-4150 U.S.A.
With the exception of his most treasured books, the Pollak Library purchased some 5,000 volumes which were in Ransome's personal library at the time of his death.
Guardian (formerly Manchester Guardian) Archives
Special Collections, John Rylands University Library Manchester, England
Ransome worked as a correspondent for the Manchester Guardian and the archives contain the articles he filed for them (in back issues of the newspaper), as well as personal letters and editorial correspondence between him and Charles Prestwich Scott (1846-1932), the paper's editor at the time.
A Recipe for Bunloaf
The Big Pit
