button to main menu Crosthwaite 1783-94
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Excellent general notes on the map series are given in a book of facsimile reproductions:-
Crosthwaite, Peter & Rollinson, William (introduction): 1968: Series of Accurate Maps of the Principal Lakes of Cumberland, Westmorland and Lancashire: Graham, Frank (Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear):: facsimiles of each map and an introductory essay
MAP FEATURES
Labelled features are not systematically identified with today's places as this will be done in a separate exercise.

title
map maker
engraver 		Printed lower centre:-
An Accurate MAP of BROADWATER or BASSENTHWAITE LAKE near KESWICK, CUMBERLAND; ... / ... / Surveyed & Planed by P. CROSTHWAITE, Admiral at Keswick Regatta, who keeps the Museum at Keswick, & is Guide, Pilot, Geographer & Hydrographer to the Nobility & Gentry, who make the Tour of the Lakes.
A note on the left states:-
NB. The Author Surveyed this Lake in October 1784, after Six Weeks of Fair Weather vizt. at Low water.
At the bottom:-
London, Published as the Act directs, 20th. May 1785. Republished with additions as the Act directs 1 Decr. 1788. Republished again with other additions May the 2st. 1794, and Sold by Peter Crosthwaite, the Author at his Museum Keswick. Republished with other additions June 20th. 1809.
and bottom right:-
Engraved by S. Neele London

vignettes There are five vignette scenes around the map sheet, each with a caption:-
Powterhow the Property of Rowland Stephenson Esqr. Taken from Scarness West's 2d. Station.
Ousebridge Inn (Sir F. F. Vane's Bart.) Situate at the N. End of the Lake & Commands an Excellent Prospect.
Castle How (Sir F. F. Vane's Bart.) with old Trenches upon it, dug out of the Solid Rock - Taken from Bassenthwaite Beck foot.
Mirehouse Thos. Storie's Esqr.
Armathwaite Hall Sir F. F. Vane's Bart. LLD.
Notice that the two hills are located on the map by a dot and circle, labelled:-
Center of Powterhow
Centre of Castlehow
(A nice pair of spellings!)

descriptive text
poem 		Printed in the lower part of the map sheet are verses:-
Adorn'd with Giant Skiddow on the East, / The Towering Banks of Withope on the West; / The North displays much Cultivated Land; / The South the Vale of Keswick ever grand, / And winding Shoars with variegated Wood; / Compleat the Scene and Circumscribe the Flood.

orientation
compass rose
up is SW 		Printed in the middle of the lake is a minimal compass rose; circle, lines for cardinal directions, North marked by a spearhead, East marked by a cross. The map is printed with WSW at the top of the sheet; the lake flows from left to right across the sheet.

scale line
scale 		Printed lower centre is a:-
Scale of One Mile.
chequered in furlongs. The map scale is about:-
1 to 22000
3 inches to 1 mile

lat and long Printed upper left of centre are:-
Lat. 54[d].: 37[m]: N.
Lon. 3[d].: 18[m]. W
presumably for the centre of the lake.

rivers
bridges 		The main rivers that feed and drain the lake are drawn by double line with form lines; unobtrusive single wiggly lines are used for the minor streams. Rivers might be labelled, eg:-
Gole R.
Derwent R.
Bridges are marked where a road crosses and interrupts one of the larger rivers, the bridge drawn by a double solid line though the road is a double dotted line. The engraving of the road across minor streams intersects rather than interrupts; perhaps implying fords. One bridge is named by implication of a placename, by the:-
Ouse Bridge Inn

lakes
islands
depth soundings 		Bassenthwaite Lake is drawn in outline with form lines. Little surrounding topography is shown, less than could be expected to interest the visitor - mo mountains for instance.
Depth soundings are given:-
... the Figures upon the Lake are Fathoms.
the deepest part, in the middle, is 13 fathoms ie 78 feet.
The current in the lake is indicated:-
NB. The 5 arrows point down the Lake, ...
Bays and peninsulas are clear, and some islands are drawn at the south end with the comment:-
These 5 Islands near lost at half Flood.

relief Relief is not indicated, but notice the vignette views of Powterhow and Castle how, positioned on the map, and relief described in the verses:-
... Giant Skiddow on the East, / The Towering Banks of Withope on the West; / ...

woods No woodland is indicated, but note the woods drawn on the vignette views of Powterhow and Castle How, and woods described in the verses:-
... winding Shoars with variegated Wood; / Compleat the Scene and Circumscribe the Flood.

parks No parks are drawn. A great house is labelled at the right border of the map:-
Old Park / Sir F. F. Vane's Bart.

county The lake is in Cumberland, given in the title.

settlements A variety of places around the lake are noticed:-
  towns
  villages
  hamlets 		circle, buildings and tower; labelled in italic block caps:-
FOLD
LONNING FOOT
ROOTEN BECK
CRAG
Lanefoot, Routenbeck and Crag are groups of houses; Fold is not big enough to appear on a one inch map. These are hamlets, and no more.
Little Crosthwaite
is labelled without any mark, but is a settlement.
  houses
  poem 		block; labelled in italic lowercase text, perhaps house name and owner's name, eg:-
High Rudding / Mr. Jonathan Beaking's
Langclose / Mr. Jno. Williamson's
Beckwithop / Sir Frederick Fletcher Vane's Bart.
which is accompanied by more verse:-
Here Fletcher's Lofty Oaks from Nature's hand, / Bow down to every Blast, and thus they stand; A Living ornament let them Remain, / (Until the present Age is past and gone:) / And Oaks Mature our Guardian Fleets Maintain.
Note the three vignette views of houses; Ousebridge Inn, Armathwaite Hall, and Mirehouse.
The distinction between settlement and house is blurred.

roads A road around the lake is drawn by double dotted line, labelled:-
Road round the Lake.
Connections off are labelled:-
Road to Bradness and Scarness Stations
Carlisle
To Cockermouth

stations Stations, recommended viewpoints, are marked on the map by a square symbol, labelled and described; 4 stations of Thomas West and 3 more of Peter Crosthwaite. Following the title is:-
... with WEST'S Four Stations pointed out thus [square] & Ousebridge Inn recommended by the Author as a Fifth. -- NB. When Company wish to visit all West's Stations, and go from KESWICK down the East Side of this Lake; it will most convenient First to proceed to Bradness; second Scarness, Third Sir F. F. Vane's Bart, Fourth the Inn, and from thence along the Western Shore to the last.
A note added to the 1794 edition:-
N.B. n 1794, the Author pointed out two other Stations: the 1st. upon the Keswick Road, 220 Yards on the Keswick side of Longclose; and then 2d. 1 1/2 Mile to the Northward of the first & may be known by the Bradness broad Lane leading from the main Road to the Left.
Anticlockwise from the south end:-
  station, Long Close Crosthwaite no.1
The Author's 1st. Station
ESE of Langclose, as the author notes:-
... upon the Keswick Road, 220 Yards on the Keswick side of Longclose. ...
  station, Sandbeds Gill Crosthwaite no.2
The Author's 2d. Station
by a road junction:-
... 1 1/2 Mile to the Northward of the first [by Longclose] & may be known by the Bradness broad Lane leading from the main Road to the Left.
  station, Bradness West no.3
West's 3d. Station
on Bradness.
  station, Scarness West no.2
West's 2d. Station
On Scarness.
  station, Armathwaite Hall West no.1
Armathwaite Hall ... West's First Station
  station, Ouse Bridge Inn Crosthwaite no.3
Ouse Bridge Inn ... and a very excellent Station
Noted in the title:-
... Ousebridge Inn recommended by the Author as a Fifth. ...
  station, Beck Wythop West no.4
West's 4th. Station
below Beckwithop.

miscellaneous

inns At the head of the lake is labelled:-
Ouse Bridge Inn

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