button to main menu  Clarke's Survey of the Lakes, 1787

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Page 39:-
twenty pounds of fish: since this invention has taken place, the fish are so far decreased in number, that he will seldom take more than half that quantity.
An expeditious method of taking eels is used here. Two or more persons go in a boat, in a Summer morning, from three till six o'clock; one gently moves the boat by the margin of the Lake, whilst the other looks for eels; he no sooner sees one than he strikes it with an eel spear, and by this method great numbers are sometimes caught. I once saw a perch which weighed five pounds struck in this manner.
  Cross Dormont
We now find nothing remarkable till we arrive at the foot of the Lake, near to which is a place called Cross-Dermont, and by Mr Speed, Crostermond: this is only remarkable for a very considerable family by the name of Sisson, who have lived there for several generations, and are the only Roman Catholics within many miles. Cross-Dermont seems to have been formerly a place of some consequence. Both Cambden and Speed mention it, although they take not the least notice of many adjacent places, at this time much more considerable.
  Ullswater, size
Before we quit the Lake, it will be proper to give the reader some account of its dimensions. From the mile post at the foot of the Lake, to the top of it, is eight miles and three quarters, by land; by water it is only eight miles and a quarter: the Lake contains 2563 acres of water when low, which gives the breadth, at a mean, almost half a mile, the difference being only 97 acres; when the water is high, we may reckon the breadth half a mile without any sensible error.
  Pooley Bridge
We now return to the little village of Powley, which appears by the cross which stands there to have been formerly a market town; the cross is now in ruin, though it was, in A.D. 1679, repaired by the Earl of Sussex. From the bridge, which takes its name from this village, is the most beautiful view of some parts of the Lake; Dun-Mallard in particular rises in a most picturesque manner, and exhibits to the view the almost inaccessible avenue which leads to its summit.
  Ullswater, fishing
If now we desire to take the fish of this Lake in perfection, we must adjourn to Edward Richardson's, whom I mentioned before. Edward himself is a real curiosity; he is blind, but an excellent guide to any of the adjacent places, and a sensible, intelligent man. I shall not here enlarge upon the cookery of our fish; I only shall add, their flavour is far the finest when dressed as soon as taken, and is still improved by the plain manner of dressing; I mean roasting them, (wrapped up in wet paper,) among wood ashes: the reader may laugh if he pleases at my cookery, but if he will try it he will find it far exceed his expectations.
  Bower Bank
It makes an agreeable variety to return to Penrith down the Westmorland side of the river, and more so, as the distance is nearly equal. One small inconvenience there is indeed, I mean the number of cross roads; but by the help of my plan, No.3 there is no danger of losing the road. The first object that strikes us is Desmesne House, called here Main House: here, the lord of the manor (Mr Hassel) keeps his court baron for Barton, Martindale, Grisdale, and some other of his estates. On the left are two tenements called Bower-Bank, or, (in the rental of Queen Catharine's estate,) Bore-Bank: to these belong a small fishery in Ulswater, and an eel fishery in Emont. Incredible are the numbers of eels caught here in the months of July, August, and September. During a storm of thunder, several horse loads are frequently caught in a few hours, and all the eels here are of that kind known by the name of the Silver Eel. Bower-Bank pays an annual rent of 11s. and 10d. to Kendale Castle, and has been in all probability purchased by the barons of Kendale for the sake of the fisheries.
  Barton school
We next see Barton, where there was once a school of great eminence. During the time that Mr Wilson was master, scholars were sent to him from the remotest parts of
the
gazetteer links
button -- "Bower Bank" -- (Bower Bank, Barton)
button -- "Cross Dermont" -- Cross Dormont
button -- Pooley Millenium Fish Cross
button -- "Demesne House" -- Dalemain
button -- "Powley" -- Pooley Bridge
button -- Patterdale to Penrith
button -- (Ullswater (CL13inc)4)
button -- Wayside
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