button to main menu  Martineau's Complete Guide to the English Lakes, 1855

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Page 6:-
he will see a lovely view,- a picturesque cottage roof, surrounded by trees, in the foreground; grey rocks cropping out of the sward on the other side of the hedges; and in front, overlapping hills, range behind range, with the grey waters of the lake lying below. Already, a traveller who should remain any time in the district would find himself introduced to the humours of a remote region. Odd sayings and doings remain, and traditions of old singularities are not lost. This place, Orrest Head, was the residence of the noted Josiah Brown, who amused himself, a century ago, with welcoming beggars, whom he supplied with meat and lodging, sometimes to the number of twenty in a night. He called them his 'jolly companions,' and no doubt he got a world of amusement out of them, in return for his hospitality. The local saying, 'that's too big a bo-o for a young horse,' was Josiah Brown's, and it was originated thus. He was breaking in a young horse, when one of his men took a liberty,- such as his servants were always taking with him,- but in this case to be repented of. The fellow hid himself behind a gate-post, and yelled so tremendously as his master passed through that Josiah was thrown, and broke his leg. His good-natured criticism was, 'that was too big a bo-o for a young horse,' and this is still the proverbial expression of extreme surprise.
  Elleray
The hill to the right is part of the Elleray property, so well known as the lake-home of Christopher North, and now so much improved by its present proprietor, Mr. Eastted. If the traveller should have the good fortune to obtain a ticket of leave to enter the
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button -- Elleray
button -- Orrest Head
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