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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.
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Cross Dormont
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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.
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Ullswater, size
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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.
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Pooley Bridge
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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.
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Ullswater, fishing
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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.
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Bower Bank
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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.
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Barton school
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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
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the
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gazetteer links
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-- "Bower Bank" -- (Bower Bank, Barton)
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-- "Cross Dermont" -- Cross Dormont
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-- Pooley Millenium Fish Cross
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-- "Demesne House" -- Dalemain
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-- "Powley" -- Pooley Bridge
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-- Patterdale to Penrith
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-- (Ullswater (CL13inc)4)
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-- Wayside
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