button to main menu   Ford's Description of the Lakes, 1839/1843

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Page 125:-
through the opening the distant range of mountains, of which the highest point, Helvellyn, is visible, form altogether an exquisite landscape.

  Armathwaite
ARMATHWAITE
May also be reached by a direct and better carriage-road leading to it from Wetheral, along the west side of the river Eden. It lies on both sides of the river, which is crossed by a bridge of three bold and graceful arches. The Castle is a plain square tower, standing on the river's bank, fitted up so as to meet the wants and comforts of modern refinement. The chapel of ease is a rude picturesque edifice, in the patronage of the owners of the Castle, and incumbency of the Rev. W. Hudson. On the eastern side is the elegant rural retreat of J. de Whelpdale, Esq., of Bishopyards, Penrith, surrounded by lawns, and protected by some fine plantations. An interesting walk through an avenue of flourishing larches, leads for a mile along the margin of a rapid eddying stream to the salmon leaps, where the Eden pours over a rocky wear (sic), and forming part of the great whinstone dyke, which crosses the island, stretching across its whole breadth. Above, the water forms a deep, still, lake-like scene, rocks shoot up perpendicularly out of it, and the immense masses of the Cooms and Baron Wood cast over it a deep gloomy shade:

'Awful scenes, that calm the troubled breast,
And woo the weary to profound repose.'
gazetteer links
button -- Armathwaite Bridge
button -- "Armathwaite Castle" -- Armathwaite Place
button -- "Armathwaite" -- Armathwaite
button -- Christ and St Mary's Church
button -- Eden, River
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