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Ashness Bridge, Borrowdale
Ashness Bridge
site name:-   Barrow Beck (2)
site name:-   Ashness Beck (higher up) 
locality:-   Ashness
civil parish:-   Borrowdale (formerly Cumberland)
county:-   Cumbria
locality type:-   packhorse bridge
locality type:-   bridge
coordinates:-   NY27021968
1Km square:-   NY2719
10Km square:-   NY21
references:-   Hinchcliffe, Ernest: 1994: Packhorse Bridges of England: Cicerone Press (Milnthorpe, Cumbria)


photograph
BLT90.jpg  Looking upstream.
(taken 3.4.2006)  
photograph
BNE36.jpg  Looking downstream; Joseph Farington's view, as near as can be judged.
(taken 17.2.2007)  

evidence:-   old print:- Farington 1789
source data:-   Print, uncoloured engraving, Derwentwater and the Vale of Keswick from Ashness, Borrowdale, Cumberland, drawn by Joseph Farington, engraved by W Byrne and T Medland, published by William Byrne, 79 Titchfield Street, London, 1784.
image  click to enlarge
FA0301.jpg
printed, bottom left, right, centre  "Drawn by Josh. Farington / Engraved by W. Byrne &T. Medland / DERWENTWATER and the VALE of KESWICK from ASHNESS; Bassenthwaite Lake in the distance. / Published as the Act directs, 1 Decr. 1784, by W. Byrne, No.79, Titchfield Str. London."
item:-  Armitt Library : A6668.1
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old photograph:- Bell 1880s-1940s
source data:-   Photograph, sepia, Ashness Bridge, Ashness, Borrowdale, Cumberland, by Herbert Bell, photographer, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1890s.
image  click to enlarge
HB0887.jpg
internegative at lower left:-  "H. Bell"
item:-  Armitt Library : ALPS558
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old photograph:- Bell 1880s-1940s
source data:-   Photograph, sepia, Ashness Bridge, Borrowdale, Cumberland, by Herbert Bell, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1890s.
image  click to enlarge
HB0472.jpg
internegative at lower right:-  "H. Bell"
item:-  Armitt Library : ALPS131
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   database:- Listed Buildings 2010
placename:-  Ashness Bridge
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"ASHNESS BRIDGE / / / BORROWDALE / ALLERDALE / CUMBRIA / II / 72124 / NY2703219695"
source data:-  
courtesy of English Heritage
"Packhorse bridge. C18 with C19 parapet and C20 widening. Slate rubble. Narrow single-span segmental hump-back bridge, with split-slate voussoirs, under solid parapets and rubble coping. This bridge lies partly in Borrowdale C.P."

evidence:-   old postcard:- 
placename:-  Ashness Bridge
source data:-   Postcard, colour photograph, Ashness Bridge and Derwent Water, Keswick, Cumberland, published by Sanderson and Dixon, Ambleside, Westmorland, about 1959.
image  click to enlarge
PH0109.jpg
printed at bottom:-  "ASHNESS BRIDGE AND DERWENTWATER, KESWICK"
item:-  JandMN : 976.1
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old postcard:- 
placename:-  Ashness Bridge
source data:-   Postcard, colour photogravure, Derwentwater and Skiddaw from Ashness Bridge, by G P Abrahams, Keswick, Cumberland, purchased about 1954.
image  click to enlarge
PH0060.jpg
printed at reverse:-  "Photogravure Series by G. P. ABRAHAM, LTD. (Copyright) KESWICK"
item:-  JandMN : 342
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old print:- Pearson 1900s
placename:-  Ashness Bridge
source data:-   Print, halftone photograph, Derwentwater from Ashness Bridge, Borrowdale, Cumberland, published by C Arthur Pearson, Henrietta Street, London, 1900s.
image  click to enlarge
PS1E59.jpg
On p.161 of Pearson's Gossipy Guide to the English Lakes and Neighbouring Districts. 
printed at bottom:-  "DERWENTWATER FROM ASHNESS BRIDGE. (p.164). / (Skiddaw in the background)."
item:-  Armitt Library : A1188.66
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old painting:- 
source data:-   Painting, watercolour, Ashness Bridge, Borrowdale, Cumberland, by Samuel Bough, 1860.
image  click to enlarge
PR0982.jpg
A small stone bridge spanning a river which flows into a lake with wooded shoreline. In the distance rise rocky fells. 
inscribed & dated &signed at bottom right:-  "From Lodor Aug 1860 Sam Bough"
item:-  Tullie House Museum : 1960.71
Image © Tullie House Museum

evidence:-   old drawing:- 
source data:-   Drawing, Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite, Cumberland, by John Harper, 1840.
image  click to enlarge
PR1369.jpg
View of Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite from Ashness Bridge, framed by hills and woods on both sides. A female figure walks across the bridge in the foreground. Executed in pencil with touches of white gouache on buff coloured paper. Preparatory sketch drawn on the spot by the artist. 
at bottom left:-  "9 Sep/40 Derwent Water &Bassenthwaite"
item:-  Tullie House Museum : 2009.89.13
Image © Tullie House Museum

evidence:-   old print:- Rose 1832-35 (vol.3 no.29) 
source data:-   Print, uncoloured engraving, Derwent and Bassenthwaite Lakes, Keswick and Skiddaw in the Distance, Cumberland, drawn by G Pickering, engraved by A le Petit, published by Fisher, Son and Co, London, 1835.
image  click to enlarge
PR0041.jpg
vol.3 pl.29 in the set of prints, Westmorland, Cumberland, Durham and Northumberland Illustrated. 
printed at bottom left, right, centre:-  ". Pickering. / A. Le Petit. / DERWENT & BASSENTHWAITE LAKES,- KESWICK & SKIDDAW IN THE DISTANCE. / FISHER, SON &CO. LONDON, 1835."
item:-  Dove Cottage : 2008.107.41
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old print:- Farington 1789 (plate 1) 
item:-  packhorse
source data:-   Print, engraving, General View of Derwentwater, painted by Joseph Farington, engraved by W Byrne and T Medland, published by W Byrne, 79 Titchfield Street, London, 1784.
image  click to enlarge
BMZ87.jpg
A packhorse on Ashness Bridge in the foreground, Derwent Water with many islands. 
Plate 1 from Views of the Lakes, &c, in Cumberland and Westmorland, published 1789. 
item:-  Dove Cottage : Lowther.51
Image © see bottom of page

hearsay:-  
John Ruskin said of this place:-
"Of all the landscapes I ever saw in my life, I think the view of Bassenthwaite and Skiddaw from that spot, with the bridge for a front object, is the best piece of composition."

Baron 1925

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