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

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Page 140:-
"that, beautiful as the prospects of this Lake certainly are, there is no eye but would dwell upon them with more pleasure than it possibly can at present." From that station, how beautiful would this place have looked, where the boats seem to be plying on every side to gain the el dorado *; but the gardens are no more. Mr Christian, the present owner, hath made many alterations, which I shall neither applaud nor condemn, as no one can be judge of half done work. I like his marginal bank exceeding well, but what his designs are I cannot tell: he has an ample fortune to put the best designs in execution, and I believe him a gentleman of taste. This island, which contains above thirty acres, belonged to the Philipsons of Cawgarth; but in the time of Edward the III. was common, and belonged to the barony of Kendale: amongst the escheats at that time, viz. Edward the III. according to Burn, there was "an order, that the wood in the island of Winandermere called Brendwood, (that is, fire-wood, from the Saxon word Brenne, to burn,) shall not be several, but common to all the free tenants of Kirkby in Kendale, and of Strickland, Crosthwaite, Crooke, and others, as well to depasture their cattle, as to take house-boot and hey-boot at their will, without the view of the forester." The rest of the islands are small, and belong to several persons too tedious to mention. One, viz. Lady Holm, had a chapel on it in the time of Henry the VIII. then called The Chapel of St Mary Holm, within Wynandermere, and belonged to the Abbey of Furness in Lancashire, founded by King Stephen as aforesaid, (see plate X.)
  Bowness-on-Windermere
As I have named a station behind Bowness, formerly Bulness, it will naturally be supposed that I would wish travellers to land there: they will find a very decent, clean little inn, the White Lyon, where at present is a conversable landlord, who is a good guide, and can tell the remarks of most of the travellers he has conducted. Behind the house is a small bowling-green upon a mount, delightfully-enough situated, but though much elevated, does not command a good prospect of the Lake and islands, as the view is intercepted by some tall trees: there is a little square building on the side next the Lake, raised a few steps, but even this does not much mend the prospect: however, let the traveller go there, as the trees may perhaps be taken away, and then almost all the islands and several other delightful scenes will appear. In this village stands the mother church of the parish of Winandermere; it is large old building, with a great quantity of painted glass in the East window, which is said to have come from Furness Abbey. Mr West says of it, in his Antiquities of Furness, p.95. "The window † consists of seven compartments, or partitions. In the third, fourth, and fifth, are depicted the crucifixion, with the virgin Mary on the right, and the beloved disciple on the left side of the cross. Angels are expressed receiving the sacred blood from the five precious wounds, and below the cross are a group of Monks in their proper habits, with the abbot in a vestment: their names are written on labels issuing from their mouths; the abbot's name is defaced, which would have given date to the whole. In the second partition are the figures of St George and the Dragon. In the sixth is represented St Catharine, with the emblems of her martyrdom, the sword, and wheel. In the seventh are two figures of mitred abbots, and underneath them two Monks dressed in vestments. In the middle compartment, above, are finely painted, quarterly, the arms of England and France, bound with the garter and its motto, probably done in the reign of Edward the III. The rest of the window is filled up by pieces of tracery, with some figures in coats armorial, and the arms of several benefactors."
  Carrier's Arms
  stained glass
  St Martin, Bowness-on-Windermere

There is a piece of painted glass on the window on the North side, called the Carrier's Arms; which is a rope, a wantey-hook, and five packing pricks, or skewers, being the implements which carriers use to fasten their packing sheets together. The inhabitants have a tradition in this place, which will, if true, amply account for the carriers
arms,
* Ederado, see Voltaire's Candidus.
† Speaking of Bowness.
gazetteer links
button -- (Belle Isle, Windermere (CL13inc)3)
button -- "Bowness" -- (Bowness-on-Windemere)
button -- "Lady Holm" -- Lady Holme
button -- St Martin's Church
button -- "White Lyon" -- White Lion
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