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About four miles further, is the village of Gosforth, where a
tall column carved with unintelligible characters stands in the
church-yard on the right; beyond which the roads from Wasdale,
Eskdale and Ravenglass become united. We have now left the
mountainous district, and entered upon one more cultivated, where
the principal views are to the sea, towards which the road seems
fast approaching; and the mountain rocks are succeeded by a red
sandstone. From hence it is nearly three miles of excellent road
to Calder Bridge, at which place are two neat small inns, where
lodgings are generally taken for the night. Three quarters of a
mile above the bridge, lie the remains of Calder Abbey, mentioned
at p.84 to which it is a pleasant walk. The path leads over a
rich, cultivated plot of ground by the side of the river Calder -
its banks finely covered with wood. The approach to the Abbey is
through a close avenue, terminated by an archway, appertaining to
a part of the building now converted to farming purposes, on
emerging from which the venerable ruin appears to view. The
mansion of Capt. Irwin adjoins the Abbey; and Ponsonby Hall, the
residence of E. Stanley, Esq. is at a short distance from the
bridge.
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