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

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Page 64:-
After the wood was cut, none of the trees appearing likely to sprout again, the farmer, Mr Scott, dug them all up and ploughed the ground. His manner of ploughing it deserves notice; he begun at the base of the hill, and ploughed in a spiral to the top, so that one ridge and one furrow covers the whole space. It will soon be laid down to grass, and will then afford an excellent station for the landscape-painter: Mr Hannan, (who was the first that I remember as coming for the purpose of drawing,) admired this view the most of any in the country. Mr Smith, Mr Grey, and every other painter likewise highly approved it, and at present it is much more beautiful than it was at that time, owing to the many improvements made on the islands and environs of the Lake.
  Pocklington's Island
  Regatta

On the side of this hill the spectators of the Regatta are placed, (I mean such as are not in boats, or at the fort upon Pocklington's Island for its defence,) also the marquees and tents. This is an amusement only lately introduced; the first was at Bassenthwaite-Water on the 24th August 1780, of which in its place. The first at Keswick was the 28th August 1781; of this I shall give Mr Ware's account, which has been much admired, as I did not attend it myself.
He says, "At eight o'clock in the morning, a vast concourse of ladies and gentlemen appeared on the side of the Derwent Lake, where a number of marquees, extending about 400 yards, were erected for their accommodation. At twelve, such of the company as were invited by Mr Pocklington passed over in boats to the island which bears his name; and on their landing were saluted by a discharge of his artillery, (which are one nine pounder and five four pounders.) This might properly be called the opening of the Regatta; for as soon as the echo of this discharge had ceased, a signal gun was fired, and five boats which lay upon their oars, (on that part of the water which runs nearest the town of Keswick,) instantly pushed off the shore and began the race. W view from any of the attendant boats, (of which there were several,) presented a scene which beggars all description. The sides of the hoary mountains were clad with spectators, and the glassy surface of the Lake was variegated with numbers of pleasure barges, which, tricked out in all the gayest colours, and glittering in the rays of the meridian sun, gave a new appearance to the celebrated beauties of this matchless vale.
"The contending boats passed Pocklington's Island, and rounding St Herbert's and Rampsholme, edged down by the outside Lord's Island; describing in the race almost a perfect circle, and, during the greatest part of it, in full view of the company.
"About three o'clock preparations were made for the sham-attack on Pocklington's Island. The fleet, (consisting of several barges, armed with small cannon and musquets,) retired out of view, behind Friar-Cragg, to prepare for action; previous to which a flag of truce was sent to the governor, with a summons to surrender upon honourable terms. A defiance was returned; soon after which the fleet was seen advancing with great spirit before the batteries, and instantly forming in a curved line, a terrible cannonading began on both sides, accompanied with a dreadful discharge of musquetry. This continued for some time, and being echoed from hill to hill in an amazing variety of sounds, filled the ear with whatever could produce astonishment and awe. All nature seemed to be in an uproar; which impressed on the awakened imagination the most lively ideas of the "war of elements," and "crush of worlds." After a severe conflict, the enemies were driven from the attack in great disorder. A feu-de-joye was then fired in the fort, and oft repeated by the responsive echoes. The fleet, after a little delay, formed again; and practising a variety of beautiful manoeuvres, renewed the attack. Uproar again sprung up, and the deep-toned echoes of the mountains again joined in solemn chorus; which was heard, to the distance of ten leagues to leeward, through the easterly opening of that vast amphitheatre, as far as Appleby.
"The
gazetteer links
button -- Crow Park
button -- (Derwent Water: regatta 1781)
button -- (station, Crow Park)
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