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

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Page 28:-
craggy rock; and by the violence of its fall raises a vapour or mist that reflects the suns rays into the most vivid prismatic colours.
A road from Lyulph's Tower conducts us over a little bridge, then passing through a gate, a little foot-path branches off to the right, and leads to the Cascade.
In order to view it to advantage, the traveller should descend pretty low into the dark vale through which the water flows; but as this requires both courage and agility, many decline the attempt: the oblique rays of an evening sun, and the swelling of the waters by rain, likewise contribute not a little to the terrible beauties of this place. If, however, the spectator can summon up resolution to descend, he will see such a scene as will amply repay the terrors of the attempt. A clear pellucid stream is seen to issue from the mouth of a seeming cave, (for the rock is worn down by the long-continued violence of the waters, and shrubs and plants form a gloomy arcade over the channel,) the torrent then leaves the rock, and falls near 20 yards, forming an arch of liquid chrystal: it then seems to return to the rock, when it is dashed into foam and vapour, with prodigious noise. In this state it flows about twelve yards, when it again collects and plunges precipitately into a dismal abyss, (impervious to the eye,) where it is heard roaring and howling for a passage. In this darksome cavern it runs some small distance, when it again peeps out, and then quietly proceeds in an obscure channel to the Lake. The bason into which this cataract pours itself is very deep, and seems to have been worn by the continual force of the water exerted during so many ages.
  fish, Aira Beck
  Sandwich Beck

It may seem surprising that the river above the Force is more plentifully stocked with fish than it is below. This is the more extraordinary, as it is quite impossible for them to have either ascended or descended through this cataract: however, the relation of the manner of supplying a neighbouring and similar stream, may in some measure account for it. The rivulet here alluded to is Sandwich Beck, and the story is as follows:
One Thomas Clarke of How-Town, in his youth, (when he was apprentice to a weaver,) got leave to go, in company with another young man, to Patterdale Fair: in their road they amused themselves with fishing; when observing that it was spawning-time, (as Patterdale Fair is held the first Monday after Old Michaelmas,) they took it into their heads to try if they could supply Sandwich Beck, above the Force or Fall, with fish, there being none there at that time. Accordingly they carried six fish, three males and as many females, in a pail of water to the place proposed, and put them in the spot they thought likeliest for their preservation.
Next year they visited the brook, when they saw some of the original stock, and many more of a smaller size, from three to four inches long. In about four years anglers resorted to the place, and caught numbers of fine fish, about half a pound weight. The brook has since been much frequented, and continues to this day well supplied: but it is remarkable, though many years have now elapsed since fish were caught there, none have ever been taken exceeding half a pound.
We may not improbably conclude, that the water above Airey has been originally stocked in the same manner. This is farther probable, when we consider that the inhabitants enjoy in this country much ease, and at the same time are possessed of very active, prying dispositions; dispositions not to be concluded from their unpolished hu[s]k, but requiring the acquaintance and confidence of the men, before they can be discerned by even the most accurate observer.
  Aira, tenure
Tradition tells us, that the adjoining lands, which go by the name of Airey, were formerly the property of a chieftan who fell in battle: upon this, his servants, five in number, divided their late master's estates amongst themselves, each taking such a parcel of ground as should include an equal value, and partake of every variety of soil.
Several
gazetteer links
button -- Aira Beck
button -- "Airey Force" -- Aira Force
button -- "Airey" -- Aira
button -- Sandwick Beck
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