One of Cumbria’s biggest property and tourism companies is celebrating its 80th birthday.

Lake District Estates has a wide portfolio of tourism and property businesses across the county and an annual turnover in excess of £9 million.

As well as the tourist attractions Ullswater Steamers, based in Glenridding, and Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, near Muncaster, the company owns caravan parks including Hill of Oaks, near Windermere, Woodclose, near Kirkby Lonsdale, Newby Bridge and Waterfoot, near Pooley Bridge.

It also owns the Tewitfield Marina holiday apartments and Peter Rabbit & Friends shops, in Bowness, Keswick and Hawkshead.

The company is still owned today by descendants of John Wakefield who formed one of the first banks in Kendal in 1788.

Sir Wavell Wakefield, who later became Lord Wakefield of Kendal, formed Lake District Estates on December 6, 1938. Lord Wakefield, a three times Grand Slam winning England rugby captain, World War One pilot and MP.

In 1954, he bought a controlling shareholding in Ullswater Navigation and Transit Company, saving the 'Steamer' company from bankruptcy. In 1960, along with Midlands stockbroker Colin Gilbert, he purchased the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway from the Keswick Granite Company in order to prevent its closure.

After Colin Gilbert's death in 1968, he became the sole owner and it was incorporated fully into Lake District Estates. Lord Wakefield died in August 1983, aged 85. One of his daughters, Hon. Mrs Ruth Adorian, still serves on the board of directors of the company as well as several of his grandchildren.

Peter Hensman, chair of Lake District Estates, said: “My grandfather was an inspiring man who relished challenges, the bigger the challenge, the better.  He wanted to create a strong business from the assets he inherited and saw in both Ullswater Steamers and Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway opportunities to do this and at the same time to conserve important parts of our cultural heritage for future generations. That they are today two of the Lake District’s best-loved attractions is testament to his vision.”

Chief executive David Little said: “We are delighted to be celebrating this milestone for the organisation. Strong family ethics and an entrepreneurial spirit are hallmarks of Lake District Estates and we continue to grow with Tewitfield Marina being the most recent addition to our portfolio. Cumbria and the Lake District is far more dependent on tourism than most other parts of the UK and we are proud to be at the forefront of providing high quality visitor experiences and supporting some 160 jobs across the county.”