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Nunnery Walks, Ainstable
Nunnery Walks
locality:-   Croglin Water
locality:-   Nunnery
civil parish:-   Ainstable (formerly Cumberland)
county:-   Cumbria
coordinates:-   NY531423 (etc) 
1Km square:-   NY5342
10Km square:-   NY54
evidence:-   old text:- Farington 1816
item:-  Sampson's Cave
source data:-   Descriptive text:-  "SCENE AT NUNNERY."
"NUNNERY, a beautiful and romantic seat, which formerly belonged to the family of Aglionby, derives its name from the religious house of Black Nuns, of the order of St. Benedict, that was founded on this spot by William Rufus. The grounds of this mansion are laid out with singular taste and judgment, every advantage having been taken to combine the improvements of art with the wild and striking scenery of nature. The walks through the grounds "commence with a turf path of some length, carried along the margin of the Eden, whose waters, concealed by trees, are only heard in their furious passage through their rugged channel, and terminating at a point which opens upon a grand face of rock scarred with natural caverns, the largest of which is called Sampson's cave." returning hence, the walks ascend to a higher level, where the rivers Eden and Croglin form their confluence; and, proceeding onward, ... [to Nunnery Fall]"
item:-  Armitt Library : A6666.1
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   descriptive text:- Ford 1839 (3rd edn 1843) 
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 FD01P126, button  goto source
Page 126:-  "..."
"NUNNERY,"
"Where the Croglin, a mountain stream, joins the Eden. The grounds on this side of the stream belong to H. A. Aglionby, Esq. M.P. whose house is a heavy red pile of building. The walks on that side formerly belonged to L. Ross, Esq., of Staffold Hall, a neat cheerful-looking mansion immediately forward; but the property is now included in that of Mr. A. It may, we think, be safely asserted that the Croglin, in this last part of its course for the space of a mile, during which it pours along a deep ravine, has no equal. It first enters this savage dell by a fall of forty feet, forcing its way through a cleft into a deep caldron, scooped out of the rock, in which the water is agitated and whirled around in boiling eddies, till it finds an escape by a narrow opening in one corner, whence it rushes down several leaps, foaming over the large masses that hinder its impetuous progress. The rocks are piled on each other up to the height of one or two hundred feet, projecting their bold fronts forward over the river, 'here scorched with lightning, there with"
image FD01P127, button  goto source
Page 127:-  "ivy green,' or grey with aged lichens and mosses. On the south side, the path is carried round the protruding masses of rock on rudely-framed galleries, supported by rough timbers, thus affording the best and most striking views, because the rocks and woods on the northern side, which are the grandest, are seen to the best advantage. At one time you are on the margin of the water, beneath overhanging crags, the brook before you rushing furiously over moss-coloured fragments and stones, forming cascades of exceeding beauty, whilst the trees waving in the breeze, reveal the shaggy rock that supplies their roots with scanty nourishment. At another, you are on the brink of the precipice, looking down into a dense mass of wood, out of which the twisted branches of the rift oak, stripped of their bark, 'toss their giant arms amid the skies,' contrasting with the deep green behind, while the water is betrayed by its sparkling sheen and softened roar."
"The Eden also presents some magnificent views, but the Croglin must ever be considered the chief attraction. This sketch, though not adequately describing this most romantic of streams, may give the tourist a faint idea of what he has to expect; for the most glowing description would fall short of the original. It would be as difficult to transfer the clear distinguishable depth of its shadows, the sea-green colour of its transparent waters, and the flashing light playing upon its precipices and dense foliage, to the canvas. In a small building are"
image FD01P128, button  goto source
Page 128:-  "some monumental remains of the Aglionby family. ..."
evidence:-   old postcard:- 
placename:-  Nunnery Walks
source data:-   Postcard, Lochinvar series, hand tinted photograph, Nunnery Walks, Ainstable, Cumberland, published by N and C, 1900s.
image  click to enlarge
PH0086.jpg
printed at bottom:-  "Nunnery Walks / Kirkoswald nr. Armathwaite / N. &C. Series"
printed at rev:-  "LOCHINVAR / POST CARD / N. &C. / ..."
item:-  JandMN : 954
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print with text:- Farington 1816
source data:-   Print, engraving, View at Nunnery, Ainstable, Cumberland now Cumbria, painted by J Farington, 1816, engraved by W Birch, mid 19th century.
image  click to enlarge
BMZ24.jpg
Presumably Nunnery Walks by the Croglin Water. 
This is presumably a new engraving of the scene, plate 34, in The Lakes of Lancashire, Westmorland and Cumberland, by T H Horne, published London, 1816; with descriptive text:-  "Scene at Nunnery in Cumberland."
"A FALL of sparkling water, sequestered among rocks and wood, has always had attractions sufficient to lead the curious traveller out of his road. But Mr. Farington seems to have discovered one in this private spot, not much known, yet deserving of the highest attention."
"His easy pencil has remembered in the picture all that sweet repose, so engaging in these exhibitions of wild nature."
item:-  Dove Cottage : Lowther.77
Image © see bottom of page
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