button to main menu  Martineau's Complete Guide to the English Lakes, 1855

button title page
button previous page button next page
Page 13:-
Ferry house, under its canopy of tall sycamores, and with its pebbly beach, is immediately opposite; and behind it rises the wooded bank which is, in light or shadow, one of the chief graces of the scene. If the sun shines upon it, it is feathered with foliage to the very ridge, and the bay beneath it is blue and lustrous. If the sun has gone down behind it, the bay is black; and every dipping bird sprinkles it with silver; and the wild duck that comes sailing out with her brood, draws behind her a pencil of white light. From this point, a view opens to the south. In the expanse of waters lies another island; and further down, on the eastern shore, a pier extends with a little tower at the end. This is Storrs: and at that pier did the guests embark when Scott went to meet Canning at Mr. Bolton's, and the fine regatta took place, (under the direction of Christopher North) which is celebrated in Lockhart's Life of Scott. This was only two years before Canning's death, and seven before that of Scott. Mr. and Mrs. Bolton are gone; and Christopher North himself has followed. It is probable that no stranger ever sees that pier at Storrs without thinking of Professor Wilson; and, indeed, there is no spot in the neighbourhood with which his memory, and the gratitude of his readers, is not associated. Any where, such a presence is rarely seen; and it was especially impressive in the places he best loved to haunt. More than one person has said that Wilson reminded them of the first man, Adam; so full was his large frame of vitality, force and sentience. His tread seemed to shake the ground, and his glance to pierce through stone walls; and, as for his
gazetteer links
button -- Ferry House, The
button -- Ferry Nab
button -- Storrs Temple
button next page

button to main menu Lakes Guides menu.