button to main menu  Old Cumbria Gazetteer
Great Langdale, Lakes
Great Langdale
Girt Langden
locality:-   Langdales
civil parish:-   Lakes (formerly Westmorland)
county:-   Cumbria
locality type:-   valley
coordinates:-   NY31230557 (etc) 
1Km square:-   NY3105
10Km square:-   NY30

photograph
BSI85.jpg (taken 23.3.2010)  
photograph
BVX03.jpg (taken 15.2.2012)  
evidence:-   old map:- OS County Series (Wmd 25 6) 
placename:-  Langdale
source data:-   Maps, County Series maps of Great Britain, scales 6 and 25 inches to 1 mile, published by the Ordnance Survey, Southampton, Hampshire, from about 1863 to 1948.
OS County Series (Wmd 25 7) 
evidence:-   old map:- Saxton 1579
placename:-  Langdale Magna
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
Sax9NY20.jpg
Building, symbol for a hamlet, which may or may not have a nucleus.  "Langdale magna"
item:-  private collection : 2
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- Keer 1605
placename:-  Langdala
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, Westmorland and Cumberland, scale about 16 miles to 1 inch, probably by Pieter van den Keere, or Peter Keer, about 1605 edition perhaps 1676.
image  click to enlarge
KER8.jpg
"Langdala"
dot, circle and tower; village 
item:-  Dove Cottage : 2007.38.110
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- Speed 1611 (Wmd) 
placename:-  Great Langdale
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, The Countie Westmorland and Kendale the Cheif Towne, scale about 2.5 miles to 1 inch, by John Speed, 1610, published by George Humble, Popes Head Alley, London, 1611-12.
image
SP14NY30.jpg
"Great Langdale"
circle, tower 
item:-  Armitt Library : 2008.14.5
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- Jenner 1643
placename:-  Langdala
source data:-   Table of distances, with map, hand coloured engraving, Westmerland ie Westmorland, scale about 16 miles to 1 inch, engraved by Jacob van Langeren, published by Thomas Jenner, Cornhill, London, 1643.
image
JEN3Sq.jpg
"Langdala"
dot, circle, tower 
item:-  private collection : 52.Wmd
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- Jansson 1646
placename:-  Great Langdale
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, Cumbria and Westmoria, ie Cumberland and Westmorland, scale about 3.5 miles to 1 inch, by John Jansson, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1646.
image
JAN3NY30.jpg
"G. Langdale"
Buildings and tower. 
item:-  JandMN : 88
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   hearth tax returns:- Hearth Tax 1675
placename:-  Langdale
source data:-   Records, hearth tax survey returns, Westmorland, 1674/75.
"Langdale"
evidence:-   hearth tax returns:- Hearth Tax 1670
placename:-  Langdaile
source data:-   Records, hearth tax returns, exchequer duplicates, Westmorland, 1670.
"Langdaile"
evidence:-   old map:- Morden 1695 (Cmd) 
placename:-  Great Langdale
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
MD12NY30.jpg
"Great Langdale"
Circle. 
item:-  JandMN : 90
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- Morden 1695 (Wmd) 
placename:-  Great Langdal
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, Westmorland, scale about 2.5 miles to 1 inch, by Robert Morden, published by Abel Swale, the Unicorn, St Paul's Churchyard, Awnsham, and John Churchill, the Black Swan, Paternoster Row, London, 1695.
image
MD10NY30.jpg
"Great Langdal"
Circle, building and tower. 
item:-  JandMN : 24
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- Simpson 1746 map (Wmd) 
placename:-  Great Langdale
source data:-   Map, uncoloured engraving, Westmorland, scale about 8 miles to 1 inch, printed by R Walker, Fleet Lane, London, 1746.
image
SMP2NYF.jpg
"G Langdale"
Building. 
item:-  Dove Cottage : 2007.38.59
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- Bowen and Kitchin 1760
placename:-  Langdale Magna
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, A New Map of the Counties of Cumberland and Westmoreland Divided into their Respective Wards, scale about 4 miles to 1 inch, by Emanuel Bowen and Thomas Kitchin et al, published by T Bowles, Robert Sayer, and John Bowles, London, 1760.
image
BO18SD29.jpg
"Langdale Mag."
circle, tower 
item:-  Armitt Library : 2008.14.10
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- Jefferys 1770 (Wmd) 
placename:-  Great Langdale
placename:-  Langdale, Great
source data:-   Map, 4 sheets, The County of Westmoreland, scale 1 inch to 1 mile, surveyed 1768, and engraved and published by Thomas Jefferys, London, 1770.
image
J5NY20NE.jpg
"Great Langdale"
hill hachuring; valley 
item:-  National Library of Scotland : EME.s.47
Image © National Library of Scotland
evidence:-   descriptive text:- West 1778 (11th edn 1821) 
placename:-  Langdale
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 WS21P213, button  goto source
Addendum; Mr Gray's Journal, 1769 
Page 213:-  "... at the head [of Windermere] two vallies open among the mountains: one, that by which we came down, the other Langdale, in which Wrynose and Hardknot, two great mountains, rise above the rest: from thence the fells visibly sink, and soften along its sides; sometimes they run into it (but with a gentle declivity) in their own dark and natural complexion: oftener they are green and cultivated, with farms interspersed, and round eminences, on the border covered with trees: ..."
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 WS21P231, button  goto source
Rev Plumtre's Night Piece on Windermere, 1797 
Page 231:-  "[1] The river Brathay is formed chiefly from two steams,- the one rising in Little Langdale, the other in Great Langdale, where it passes the Pikes and the slate quarry: ..."
evidence:-   old painting:- Green 1790s-1820s
item:-  cattle
source data:-   Painting, watercolour, Great Langdale, Westmorland, by William Green, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1800s-10s?
image  click to enlarge
PR1750.jpg
item:-  Dove Cottage : 2007.25.4
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   probably old map:- Cooper 1808
placename:-  Longdale
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, Westmoreland ie Westmorland, scale about 9 miles to 1 inch, by H Cooper, 1808, published by R Phillips, Bridge Street, Blackfriars, London, 1808.
image  click to enlarge
COP4.jpg
"Longdale"
area 
item:-  Dove Cottage : 2007.38.53
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Green 1810 (plate 50) 
placename:-  Vale of Langdale
source data:-   Print, soft ground etching, Vale of Langdale from Bays Brown, Great Langdale, Westmorland, by William Green, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1810.
image  click to enlarge
GN1250.jpg
Plate 50 in Sixty Studies from Nature, 1810. 
printed at top right:-  "50"
printed at bottom:-  "VALE OF LANGDALE FROM BAYS BROWN. / Drawn and Engraved by William Green, and Published at Ambleside, June 24, 1810."
watermark:-  "J WHATMAN / 1813"
item:-  Armitt Library : A6641.50
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old text:- Green 1814
placename:-  Great Langdale
source data:-   Set of prints, soft ground etchings, Sixty Small Prints, with text, A Description of a Series of Sixty Small Prints, by William Green, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1814.
image GN09p09, button  goto source
page 9:-  "... the vales of Langdale are considered by some people of taste as the finest in the north of England. ..."
evidence:-   old map:- Otley 1818
placename:-  Langdale
source data:-   Map, uncoloured engraving, The District of the Lakes, Cumberland, Westmorland, and Lancashire, scale about 4 miles to 1 inch, by Jonathan Otley, 1818, engraved by J and G Menzies, Edinburgh, Scotland, published by Jonathan Otley, Keswick, Cumberland, et al, 1833.
image
OT02NY20.jpg
"LANGDALE"
item:-  JandMN : 48.1
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- Hall 1820 (Wmd) 
placename:-  Great Langdale
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, Westmoreland ie Westmorland, scale about 14.5 miles to 1 inch, by Sidney Hall, London, 1820, published by Samuel Leigh, 18 Strand, London, 1820-31.
image  click to enlarge
HA18.jpg
"Gt. Langdale"
circle, italic lowercase text; settlement 
item:-  Armitt Library : 2008.14.58
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   descriptive text:- Ford 1839 (3rd edn 1843) 
placename:-  Langdale
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 FD01P162, button  goto source
Page 162:-  "..."
"A more extended excursion generally performed from Ambleside, is that into Langdale, which may be made partly in carriages, although it is more usual to effect it in carts, which way will indeed be found the most convenient and suitable to the roads, as well as enabling the tourist to carry the necessary creature comforts for a mountain ramble. ... Descending the hill to the head of Great Langdale, the Langdale Pikes appear immediately in front, with Bowfell on the left. The conical pike is called Pike of Stickle, and the broad-headed pike, Harrison Stickle. Great Langdale is entered at the farm-house of Wall End, whence Bowfell may be ascended, or Borrodale penetrated, by passing over the Stake. The regular excursion, however, will bring the tourist down to Millbeck, where he may see the waterfall of Dungeon Gill. Still descending the valley, he may, when in view of Elter Water,"
image FD01P163, button  goto source
Page 163:-  "turn to the left, and cross the hill by High Close, whence are interesting views of Windermere and Langdale, on one side, and the vale and lake of Grasmere, on the other. A road back by Langdale Chapel, will bring him again to Ambleside, after a circuit of nineteen miles, viz.:"
Miles. Miles.
3 Skelwith Bridge 3
2 Colwith Force 5
2½ Blea Tarn 7½
4 Dungeon Gill 11½
4 Langdale Chapel 15½
3½ Ambleside, by Rydal 19
evidence:-   old map:- Ford 1839 map
placename:-  Great Langdale
source data:-   Map, uncoloured engraving, Map of the Lake District of Cumberland, Westmoreland and Lancashire, scale about 3.5 miles to 1 inch, published by Charles Thurnam, Carlisle, and by R Groombridge, 5 Paternoster Row, London, 3rd edn 1843.
image
FD02NY20.jpg
"Great Langdale"
Area, beside beck. 
item:-  JandMN : 100.1
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old drawing:- Aspland 1840s-60s
source data:-   Drawing, pencil, Great Langdale? Westmorland, by Theophilus Lindsey Aspland, 1849.
image  click to enlarge
AS0157.jpg
item:-  Armitt Library : 1958.487.57
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   probably old drawing:- Aspland 1840s-60s
source data:-   Drawing, pencil and ink wash, Great Langdale? Westmorland, by Theophilus Lindsey Aspland, 1849.
image  click to enlarge
AS0158.jpg
item:-  Armitt Library : 1958.487.58
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   probably old drawing:- Aspland 1840s-60s
source data:-   Drawing, pencil and ink wash, Great Langdale? Westmorland, by Theophilus Lindsey Aspland, 1849.
image  click to enlarge
AS0159.jpg
item:-  Armitt Library : 1958.487.59
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old text:- Miller 1847
item:-  rain
source data:-   Book, Report on the Fall of Rain in the Lake Districts of Cumberland and Westmoreland in 1846, by John Fletcher Miller, printed by G Irwin, Lowther Street, Whitehaven, Cumberland, 1847.
image MI02P05, button  goto source
Page 5:-  "At Seathwaite, there have been thirty-six days in which the quantity of measured rain was between one and two inches; six days between two and three inches; five days between three and four inches; one day between four and five inches; and one day between five and six inches."
"At Langdale Head, there have been thirty-eight days of the first; five days of the second; and four days of third class; and one day wherein the fall exceeded four inches."
evidence:-   old map:- Garnett 1850s-60s H
placename:-  Langdale
source data:-   Map of the English Lakes, in Cumberland, Westmorland and Lancashire, scale about 3.5 miles to 1 inch, published by John Garnett, Windermere, Westmorland, 1850s-60s.
image
GAR2NY30.jpg
"Langdale"
river valley 
item:-  JandMN : 82.1
Image © see bottom of page
 Martineau Directory 1855
evidence:-   probably old print:- Payn 1867
source data:-   Print, uncoloured engraving, Rocks in Langdale, Westmorland, by T L Aspland, engraved by W T Green, published by J Garnett, Windermere, Westmorland, 1867.
image  click to enlarge
PN0322.jpg
On p.44 of The Lakes in Sunshine, text by James Payn. 
printed at lower right:-  "W. T. GREEN Sc"
item:-  Fell and Rock Climbing Club : 184.22
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   perhaps old photograph:- Payn 1867
placename:-  Great Langdale
source data:-   Photograph, sepia, Head of Great Langdale, with Passes to Borrowdale and Wastwater, Westmorland, by Garnett and Sproat, published by J Garnett, Windermere, Westmorland, 1867.
image  click to enlarge
PN0323.jpg
Tipped in opposite p.46 of The Lakes in Sunshine, text by James Payn. 
printed at bottom:-  "HEAD OF GREAT LANGDALE, WITH PASSES TO BORROWDALE AND WASTWATER."
item:-  Fell and Rock Climbing Club : 184.23
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old photograph:- Bell 1880s-1940s
source data:-   Photograph, sepia, near Dungeon Ghyll, Great Langdale, Westmorland, by Herbert Bell, photographer, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1890s.
image  click to enlarge
HB0923.jpg
item:-  Armitt Library : ALPS600
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old photograph:- Bell 1880s-1940s
source data:-   Photograph, black and white, Great Langdale, Westmorland, by Herbert Bell, photographer, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1890s.
image  click to enlarge
HB0922.jpg
item:-  Armitt Library : ALPS599
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old photograph:- Bell 1880s-1940s
source data:-   Photograph, sepia, Great Langdale, Westmorland, by Herbert Bell, photographer, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1890s.
image  click to enlarge
HB0851.jpg
item:-  Armitt Library : ALPS522
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old photograph:- Bell 1880s-1940s
source data:-   Photograph, sepia, Great Langdale in winter, Westmorland, by Herbert Bell, photographer, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1890s.
image  click to enlarge
HB0646.jpg
item:-  Armitt Library : ALPS309
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old photograph:- Bell 1880s-1940s
source data:-   Photograph, sepia, Great Langdale, Westmorland, by Herbert Bell, photographer, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1890s.
image  click to enlarge
HB0640.jpg
Mickleden Beck in the valley bottom; Pike of Stickle on the right, Stake Pass vaguely recognizable towards the left. 
item:-  Armitt Library : ALPS303
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old photograph:- Bell 1880s-1940s
source data:-   Photograph, black and white, Great Langdale, Westmorland, by Herbert Bell, photographer, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1890s.
image  click to enlarge
HB0636.jpg
stamped on reverse:-  "HERBERT BELL / Photographer / AMBLESIDE"
item:-  Armitt Library : ALPS298
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old photograph:- Bell 1880s-1940s
source data:-   Photograph, black and white, Great Langdale, Westmorland, by Herbert Bell, photographer, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1890s.
image  click to enlarge
HB0631.jpg
internegative at lower left:-  "H. Bell"
stamped on reverse:-  "HERBERT BELL / Photographer / AMBLESIDE"
item:-  Armitt Library : ALPS293
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old photograph:- Bell 1880s-1940s
source data:-   Photograph, b/w, Great Langdale, Westmorland, by Herbert Bell, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1890s?
image  click to enlarge
HB0268.jpg
at internegative, left, right:-  "91. LANGDALE. / H. BELL."
item:-  Armitt Library : ALPS623
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old photograph:- Bell 1880s-1940s
item:-  carriage
source data:-   Photograph, carriage accident, Great Langdale, by Herbert Bell, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1890s?
image  click to enlarge
HB0238.jpg
item:-  Armitt Library : 1958.5097
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Brabant 1902
placename:-  Great Langdale
source data:-   Print, uncoloured lithograph, Langdale Pikes and Great Langdale, Westmorland, by Edmund H New, published by Methuen and Co, 36 Essex Street, Strand, London, 1902.
image  click to enlarge
BBT103.jpg
Tipped in opposite p.102 of The English Lakes, by F G Brabant. 
printed at bottom right:-  "E. H. NEW"
printed at bottom:-  "LANGDALE PIKES AND GREAT LANGDALE"
item:-  JandMN : 502.7
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- Postlethwaite 1877 (3rd edn 1913) 
placename:-  Great Langdale
source data:-   Map, uncoloured engraving, Map of the Lake District Mining Field, Westmorland, Cumberland, Lancashire, scale about 5 miles to 1 inch, by John Postlethwaite, published by W H Moss and Sons, 13 Lowther Street, Whitehaven, Cumberland, 1877 edn 1913.
image
PST2NY20.jpg
"Great Langdale"
locality 
item:-  JandMN : 162.2
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   perhaps old print:- MacBride 1922
item:-  snow; weather
source data:-   Print, colour, Melting Snow, Langdale, by Alfred Heaton Cooper, published by Adam and Charles Black, 4-6 Soho Square, London, 2nd edn 1928.
image  click to enlarge
MB0106.jpg
Tipped in opposite p.28 in Wild Lakeland by MacKenzie MacBride. 
printed at bottom:-  "MELTING SNOW, LANGDALE"
signed at lower right:-  "A. HEATON COOPER"
item:-  JandMN : 195.8
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Bogg 1898
source data:-   Print, engraving, The Langdales, Lakes, Westmorland, by Gilbert Foster, published by Edmund Bogg, 3 Woodhouse Lane, and James Miles, Guildford Street, Leeds, Yorkshire, 1898.
image  click to enlarge
BGG168.jpg
Included on p.183 of Lakeland and Ribblesdale, by Edmund Bogg. 
item:-  JandMN : 231.68
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Rowbotham 1875
source data:-   Print, chromograph, Great Langdale, Westmorland, by T L Rowbotham, published by Marcus Ward and Co, 67-68 Chandos Street, Covent Garden, London, and Belfast, 1875.
image  click to enlarge
LF1E04.jpg
Tipped in opposite p.30 of English Lake Scenery, by W J Loftie. 
printed at lower left:-  "T L Rowbotham"
item:-  Armitt Library : A963.4
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Sylvan 1847
placename:-  Great Langdale
source data:-   Print, engraving, Great Langdale and the Pikes, Westmorland, engraved by Thomas Gilks, published by John Johnstone, Paternoster Row, London, et al, 1847.
image  click to enlarge
SYL123.jpg
On p.72 of Sylvan's Pictorial Guide to the English Lakes. 
printed at bottom right, centre:-  "T. GILKS [Sc] / GREAT LANGDALE AND THE PIKES."
item:-  Armitt Library : A1201.23
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   outline view:- Tattersall 1836
placename:-  Great Langdale
source data:-   Print, engraving, Great Langdale, Westmorland, drawn by George Tattersall, engraved by W F Topham, published by Sherwood and Co, Paternoster Row, London, about 1836.
image  click to enlarge
TAT112.jpg
The print is captioned with mountain names and acts as an outline view. 
Tipped in opposite p.46 of The Lakes of England, by George Tattersall. 
printed at bottom:-  "GT. LANGDALE."
printed at bottom left to right:-  "Wetherlam. / Lingmire. / Bowfell. / Pike o'Stickle. / Harrison Stickle. / Gt. Langdale. / High Close."
item:-  Armitt Library : A1204.13
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   probably old print:- Britton and Brayley 1802
placename:-  Valley of Langdale
source data:-   Print, uncoloured engraving, View in the Valley of Langdale, with Langdale Pikes, Westmorland, painted by G Arnald, engraved by W Angus, published by Vernor, Hood and Sharpe, Poultry, London, 1807.
image  click to enlarge
PR0143.jpg
Included in the Beauties of England and Wales, by John Britton and Edward W Brayley. 
printed at bottom left, right, centre:-  "Engrav'd by W. Angus from a painting by G. Arnald, / for the Beauties of England & Wales. E.W.B dxt. / View in the Valley of Langdale, / (Looking Westward towards Langdale Pikes) / Westmoreland. / London, Published by Vernor, Hood &Sharpe, Poultry, Augt. 1. 1807."
item:-  Dove Cottage : 2008.107.143
Image © see bottom of page

photograph
 Click to enlarge
BNR46.jpg (taken 22.5.2007)  
button to lakes menu  Lakes Guides menu.