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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.
image
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.
image
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.
image WS21P172, button  goto source
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,"
image WS21P173, button  goto source
Page 173:-  "all the refinements of liberal taste and flourishing industry."
"..."
image WS21P190, button  goto source
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]"
image WS21P200, button  goto source
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.
image
Bk03Vg04.jpg
item:-  private collection : 3
Image © see bottom of page

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.
image FD01P178, button  goto source
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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