Clarke's Survey of the Lakes, 1787

---

	title page
	previous page next page
	Page 84:- Now again take boat at Hardendale-Knott or Manesty-Nook: a little below Manesty-Nook was got, within these few years, a considerable quantity of lead-ore, but is not now wrought. Sailing along the side of Branley-Park, view the several delightful creeks and bays: when the sun has left this side of the Lake in the afternoon, the views on the other side are much more beautiful. This estate was lately purchased by Lord William Gordon, who is building a handsome house at Water-end, Mr Pocklington has also built a house at Finkle.
Derwent Water   islands
	I must now give an account of the remaining islands of this Lake; which I shall do in the same order that they meet the eye as sailing downwards. The first is Rampsholm; so called, I suppose, from the ramp or rampione, a species of the leek, which it produces in great abundance; it has a few trees of little or no value upon it. The next that presents itself is St Herbert's; so called from that Romish Saint who had an hermitage there: This island, (upon which some remains of his cell are yet to be seen) was given to him by St Cuthbert, (see Burn and Nicholson,) but is now the property of Sir Gilfred Lawson, Baronet. We next come to Vicar's Island, now called, (from its proprietor) Pocklington's Island. This is one of the largest, and is beautifully ornamented by its spirited owner. On the western side he has built a fort, on which he has a battery, as before mentioned: on the South side of the fort is a druidical temple, exactly facing Keswick; and close to the shore is the appearance of a chapel, which consists of only one wall and a steeple: the steeple contains a room, not furnished with bells, but good roast-beef and claret; where the worthy Proprietor very facetiously said he might, he thought, always find more priests ready to attend, than at their own churches by the tinkling of bells. - The traveller will now land at Crow-Park, and conclude one day's excursion.
Bottom Wind
	Before we leave the Lake, I must beg my reader's patience for a few words concerning that extraordinary phaenomenon, the Bottom-Wind: This, so far as I know, is not observed in any other of our English Lakes, and is attended with many singular and inexplicable circumstances. In a perfectly calm day, the surface of the Lake will be agitated in a violent manner; the swell is quite regular, and always in the same direction, viz. from West to East; yet I have been at the very entrance of Borrowdale when one of these bottom-winds began, and felt not so much wind as would have extinguished a candle: sometimes they scarcely continue an hour, at other times almost a whole day, and are often, (tho' not always) the forerunners of a storm. These phaenomena I have elsewhere declared myself unable to explain: Should, however, any of my readers be able to accomplish the task, he will confer a singular favour upon me by communicating his solution. We now once more arrive at Keswick, where I hope the fatigues and pleasure of our day will have the same effects upon every traveller they had upon me, viz. procure them a good appetite and sound rest.
Newlands Valley   rain
	Some of the curious who visit this country wish to see Buttermere, Cromark-Water, and Lowes-Water; the road by which they must travel to these lyes up Newlands. I do not admire this journey through roads where a carriage can hardly travel amidst deserts: In many places the traveller cannot even meet with shelter from the storms, which sometimes come on extremely sudden. When I was viewing these places, I was honoured with the most unexpected pop-visit from a thunder-shower I ever experienced; the rain seemed perfectly at home, and as such, came as suddenly, and with as little ceremony, as the shower which Xantippe is said to have discharged upon the head of her patient husband. I had not time to look about me, - the day had been perfectly clear,
	and
	gazetteer links
	-- "Branley Park" -- Brandelhow Park
	-- "Vicar's Island" -- Derwent Isle
	-- "Derwentwater" -- Derwent Water
	-- "Rampsholm" -- Rampsholme Island
	-- Borrowdale and Buttermere
	-- "St Herbert's Island" -- St Herbert's Island
	next page

Lakes Guides menu.

---