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Page 152:-
Low Grathwaite is the property of William Rawlinson,
Esquire. Both these houses are very good modern buildings,
and both the owners seem to have a great predilection for
gardening; their situation is in a hollow circus, which
disappoints them of viewing the Lake Winandermere. Mr
Rawlinson has at one end of his garden a mount, underneath
which is a cellar, and on the top a flower garden,
surrounded with a fanciful yew hedge; this commands a pretty
extensive view of the Lake through an opening in the woods.
The houses are sheltered from the winds on every side, but
are extremely hot in Summer; and as the descent to the Lake
is steep and woody, the traveller will be agreeably
surprized at his coming in view (suddenly) of these
beautiful mansions, in the midst of wood and desart.
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High Stott Park
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We next pass Stott-Park, by some called
Oxen-Park; (Stott in the North country dialect
signifies an Ox, but is by the farmers so called till four
years of age, after which age he is called an Ox.) This
estate is the property of a Mr Brathwaite; here are two good
houses, with pretty gardens; their situation is low, without
any extensive prospect or view of the Lake; but there are
some flat meadows before them, with beautiful copses of wood
interspersed, which afford a pleasing variety; many of them
jut into the Lake, and indent the shore, making several bays
and peninsulas, which at high-water become, some of them,
islands.
The Lake exhibits much the same appearance as far as
Landing, near which Mr Harrison has made some
improvements: In this place, and within half a mile, the
soil is not above a yard thick, under which is fine small
sand, without the smallest mixture of vegetative earth. This
sand the inhabitants use for all purposes of river sand,
mixing their lime, and covering the roads with it. I cannot
imagine, (unless we suppose the Lake to have been larger
formerly than at present) how this sand could come here; no
flood, (the deluge excepted) could rise so high; and as the
same strata are found on both sides of the water, we must
conclude that the cause, be what it will, must have been
very extensive.
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Newby Bridge
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We next come to Newby Bridge, where is a neat
village, and an handsome stone bridge across the stream
which flows from the Lake: Here are landed vast quantities
of slate, coals, iron-ore, and all kinds of merchandise,
which are brought from different parts of the circumjacent
country.
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forestry
oak, Low Wood
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Hence may be had a passage by water to Bowness or Ambleside;
there is also a good road to Lancaster, which is twenty
miles distant by way of Cartmel, and to Kendale, which is
fourteen by Fell-Foot; there is likewise a road to Ambleside
by way of Bowness along the southern margin of the Lake;
this is a pleasant road in point of rural beauty, but
affords nothing for either the historian or antiquarian. The
soil is barren, and produces little or nothing but wood,
which is remarkablY quick of growth whilst young; at the age
of twenty or twenty-five years, its growth seems to slacken,
(probably on account of the shallowness of the soil,) and
therefore the proprietors cut it every fourteen or sixteen
years for charcoal, hoops, and such like purposes: They take
care, however, to cut always such a proportion that there
may remain an equal quantity to cut every year. So naturally
productive is this county of wood, that should a piece of
the common be inclosed, in a few years it is spontaneously
planted. Though, from what we have said, it may be concluded
that there are no large or timber trees in this country, yet
is not this rule without exception: in Rydale Park, and some
other places, are yet remaining trees of a very large size,
tho' the largest and oldest were felled about six years ago.
There is an oak tree growing at Mr Birkett's of Low-Wood,
(see plate X.) which he himself planted, and which is a real
curiosity, on account of its beauty, magnitude, and quick
growth. A man of the name of Skilbeck had for some years
taken notice of the quick growth of this tree; being once at
Mr Birkett's sheep-shearing, he found that he could, when
sitting upon the ground, exactly fathom it; next year, at
the same season, he again
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tried
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gazetteer links
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-- Fell Foot Wood
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-- "High Grathwaite" -- Graythwaite Hall
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-- "Low Grathwaite" -- Graythwaite Old Hall
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-- "Stott Park" -- High Stott Park
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-- "Landing" -- Landing How
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-- Newby Bridge
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-- "Newby Bridge" -- Newby Bridge
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-- Windermere to Newby Bridge
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-- "Rydale Park" -- Rydal Park
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-- "Low Wood" -- Wood Farm
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