Old Cumbria Gazetteer - Beacon Hill, Penrith

Beacon Hill, Penrith

Beacon Hill

locality:-

Penrith

civil parish:-

Penrith (formerly Cumberland)

county:-

Cumbria

locality type:-

hill

coordinates:-

NY52473132 (etc)

1Km square:-

NY5231

10Km square:-

NY53

evidence:-

old map:- Saxton 1579

source data:-

Map, hand coloured engraving, Westmorlandiae et Cumberlandiae Comitatus ie Westmorland and Cumberland, scale about 5 miles to 1 inch, by Christopher Saxton, London, engraved by Augustinus Ryther, 1576, published 1579-1645.

Sax9NY53.jpg
With beacon tower.
item:- private collection : 2
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old map:- Morden 1695 (Cmd)

source data:-

Map, uncoloured engraving, Cumberland, scale about 4 miles to 1 inch, by Robert Morden, 1695, published by Abel Swale, the Unicorn, St Paul's Churchyard, Awnsham, and John Churchill, the Black Swan, Paternoster Row, London, 1695-1715.

MD12NY53.jpg
Hillock with a small tower.
item:- JandMN : 90
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

descriptive text:- West 1778 (11th edn 1821)

source data:-

Guide book, A Guide to the Lakes, by Thomas West, published by William Pennington, Kendal, Cumbria once Westmorland, and in London, 1778 to 1821.

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Page 172:- "..."
"From the beacon [Penrith] the views are many, all extensive and vast. The eye is in the centre of a plain, inclosed with a circle of stupendous mountains of various forms. The plain is adorned with many ancient towns, and more ancient castles, stations, and castellums, where the Roman eagle long displayed her wings; but which are now possessed by a happier people, who enjoy, with freedom,"

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Page 173:- "all the refinements of liberal taste and flourishing industry."
"..."

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Page 190:- "A TABLE OF THE Height of Mountains and Lakes SEEN IN THIS TOUR, ... TAKEN FROM THE LEVEL OF THE SEA. ... by Mr. John Dalton."
"Penrith Beacon ... 340 [yards]"

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Addendum; Mr Gray's Journal, 1769
Page 200:- "... at Penrith, ... In the afternoon walked up beacon-hill, a mile to the top, and could see Ulls-water through an opening in the bosom of that cluster of broken mountains, which the Dr. well remembers, Whinfield and Lowther parks, &c. and the craggy tops of an hundred nameless hills: these lie to the west and south. To the north, a great extent of black and dreary plains. To the east, Cross-fell, just visible through mists and vapours hovering round it."

evidence:-

descriptive text:- Baker 1802
item:- races

source data:-

Perspective road map with sections in Lancashire, Westmorland, and Cumberland, by J Baker, London 1802.
pp.25-26:- "..."
"Penrith is situated beneath some verdurous heights that stretch from it towards the east; one point of which is decorated with a fancy building, commonly called the Beacon. From this spot is a most interesting view if the adjacent country, and hereon are the annual races of the town. ..."

evidence:-

old map:- Baker 1802

source data:-

Perspective road maps with sections in Lancashire, Westmorland and Cumberland, by J Baker, London 1802.

evidence:-

descriptive text:- Ford 1839 (3rd edn 1843)
placename:- Penrith Beacon
item:- altitude, Beacon Hill

source data:-

Guide book, A Description of Scenery in the Lake District, by Rev William Ford, published by Charles Thurnam, Carlisle, by W Edwards, 12 Ave Maria Lane, Charles Tilt, Fleet Street, William Smith, 113 Fleet Street, London, by Currie and Bowman, Newcastle, by Bancks and Co, Manchester, by Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, and by Sinclair, Dumfries, 1839.

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Page 178:- "ELEVATION OF THE MOUNTAINS,"
"ACCORDING TO DIFFERENT AUTHORITIES."


No.	Names of Mountains.	Dalton.	Otley.	Trig. S.	Jamieson

31	Penrith Beacon	1020

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