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Page 100:-
[see]ing, not only the horrors, but the beauties of the
place; and therefore, (more honestly than most of our
authors,) gives no description of what he never saw. It is
indeed a question whether, if Mr Gray had wrote the history
of his terrors, it would not have been as
entertaining, at least as curious, as his journal. I cannot,
however, help thinking, that the world lost more by this
unaccountable weakness, than even Mr Gray himself.
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Ormathwaite Hall
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Having passed Crookelty-Bridge, we see Armathwaite
(sic), the seat of William Brownrigg, Esq; M.D.; this house
and every thing round it are planned and executed in all the
charming simplicity of refined taste. The learned owner has
been long and justly celebrated for his extensive
acquaintance with every branch of medical and philosophical
knowledge: as a chemist and electrician he may perhaps stand
unrivalled; and it is generally believed, that both Dr
Franklin and Dr Priestly stand indebted to him for many of
their most important discoveries. He has by him a great
number of invaluable essays on almost every subject, but
could never be persuaded to give them to the world: I can
only add, that I hope, for the sake of science, he will
change his present resolution.
From hence are two roads to Keswick, as will appear by the
plan: the road by Monks-Hall does not, however,
afford any thing entertaining, and is, besides, viewed in
our road to Skiddow. This estate belongs to Sir M. Le
Fleming, Baronet, and takes its name from the circumstance
of belonging formerly to the Monks of Furness Abbey
in Lancashire. It was given to them, (with other lands in
this neighbourhood,) by Godartus Dapifer, and was
called a carucate * of land. Godartus's heirs
confirmed the gift, and paid, according to Nicholson and
Burn, L.100, and five couples of hounds for a post-fine to
King Henry II. At this hall the Monks had a Steward, and
here the tenants used to pay their rents. It is now a small
farm house, but there are vestiges of a moat and a square
building.
The other road which leads past the vicarage affords the
grandest view for the artist of any in this country. Mr Gray
describes it, but did not leave his road for it; and only
viewed from the horsing-stone at the parsonage house: he
says of it, "From hence I got to the parsonage a little
before sunset, and saw in my glass a picture, that if I
could transmit to you, and fix in all the softness of its
living colours, would fairly sell for a thousand pounds.
This is the sweetest scene that I can yet discover in point
of pastoral beauty; the rest are in a sublimer stile." Here
are two views, one facing Low-Door, and the other towards
Finkle-street, which I think the better: to describe them is
impossible, as they depend greatly upon the situation of the
sun; for, according to the direction of his rays, the shades
and tints are every moment varying, and in a cloudy day the
landscape loses much of its beauty.
The road from hence to Keswick is evident from the plan, and
affords nothing new. I shall therefore give an account of
some things at Keswick, which I could not so properly do
before.
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Keswick
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The church of Keswick, (properly called Crossthwaite
Church,) is dedicated to St Cuthbert, and has under it five
chapels of ease, viz. Borrowdale, St John's,
Wythburn, Thornthwaite and Newlands; out of all these
collectively are chosen the Church-wardens of Crossthwaite,
and eighteen persons whom they call Sides-Men. These
are sworn into their office on Ascension-day by the Vicar; a
custom I believe used in no other place. This church is
under the patronage of the Bishop of Carlisle.
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The
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* A carucate of land signifies so much as one plough
is able to cultivate in a year; and is derived from the old
word Caru, signifying a plough.
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gazetteer links
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-- "Monks Hall" -- Monk Hall
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-- "Armathwaite" -- Ormathwaite Hall
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-- Bassenthwaite Lake circuit
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-- "Skiddow" -- Skiddaw
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-- "Crossthwaite Church" -- St Kentigern's Church
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-- (station, Crosthwaite Vicarage)
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