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

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Page 145:-
Grassmere, -L.1 0 0
Rydale, -0 0 0 or little
Winandermere, -12 0 0
Coniston, -7 0 0
Although the rents of these Lakes are small, yet they are very full of fish, but every person claims a right of angling in every one except Bassenthwaite, and there you may keep a boat, and kill whatever you can, for half a crown in the year.

book 5
  chapter 3

CHAP. III.

Road to Hawkshead, -- Town of Hawkshead, -- Account of several small Lakes, -- Aske's Rebellion, -- Proclamation at Hawkshead, -- Grathwaite, Gentlemens Seats there, -- Stott Park, -- Newby Bridge, -- Return to Ambleside by land, -- or to Penrith.
HAVING viewed the high end of this Lake, and mentioned the antiquities, it remains with the travellers to determine whether they view the other parts or not; it affords less variety; and they may, if they choose, take a turn towards Hawk's-head, and see Coniston Lake. I have not surveyed it with any instrument, so will not pretend to say much about its dimensions: I shall, therefore, only observe, that it is not without its beauties; and that it is about six miles long, less than half a mile in breadth, but is surrounded with woods, meadows, and mountains. It is no ways remarkably beautiful, but affords, like the others, a great variety of landscape scenes; the house of Mr Knott, in a grove of tall wood near the high-end of it, affords the artist several views, which are heightened by the white cottages in the neighbourhood; none, however, are very striking. Mr West, p.52, says, "It will be allowed, that the views on this Lake are beautiful and picturesque, yet they please more than surprise. The hills that immediately inclose the Lake are ornamental, but humble; the mountains at the head of the Lake are great, noble, and sublime, without any thing that is horrid or terrible. They are bold and steep, without the projecting precipices, the over-hanging rock, or perpendicular cliff. The hanging woods, waving inclosures, and airy scites, are elegant, beautiful, and picturesque; and the whole may be seen with ease and pleasure. In a fine morning, there is not a more pleasant rural ride; and then the beauties of the Lake are seen to the most advantage: in the afternoon, if the sun shines, much of the effect is lost by the change of light; and such as visit it from the north lose all the charms arising from the swell of the mountains, by turning their backs upon them."
  Ambleside to Hawkshead
  Brathay

From Ambleside, towards Hawkshead and Coniston we pass through Clappersgate, where is the principal Quay for the slate, charcoal, &c. which is navigated down the Lake, and then having crossed the bridge, we enter Lancashire. Close to the end of the bridge, (see plate X.) is Brathay, the seat of George Law, Esq; a delightful place, situated at the high-end of a meadow almost as smooth as a bowling-green, with the river half-surrounding it; and adjoining to it is a vast quantity of wood, growing upon uneven rocky ground. The house is a modern building, and the gardens laid out in rural taste; the present owner lately purchased the estate from the trustees of the late Gawen Brathwaite, Esq; for a summer seat, so that the repairs and improvements were but in their infancy when I visited it. We next pass a little inn called the Pull; the sign is so much defaced that no person can tell what it hath been; somebody, however, hath put under it,

"What this sign is none can tell,
But here's good beer and ale to sell."
At
gazetteer links
button -- "Brathay" -- Brathay Hall
button -- "Coniston Lake" -- Coniston Water
button -- (landing stage, Clappersgate)
button -- "Pull, The" -- Pull Inn
button -- Water Head House
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