Old Cumbria Gazetteer - Rothay, River

Rothay, River

runs into:-

Grasmere
Rydal Water
Brathay, River

civil parish:-

Lakes (formerly Westmorland)

county:-

Cumbria

locality type:-

river

1Km square:-

NY3308 (etct)

10Km square:-

NY30

BRV21.jpg At the bridge,
(taken 11.11.2009)
photograph

BRV11.jpg At Low Mill Bridge,
Tongue Gill entering on the left.
(taken 11.11.2009)

evidence:-

old map:- OS County Series (Wmd 26 10)
placename:- Rothay, River

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.

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.

Sax9NY30.jpg
item:- private collection : 2
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old map:- Mercator 1595 (edn?)
placename:-

source data:-

Map, hand coloured engraving, Westmorlandia, Lancastria, Cestria etc, ie Westmorland, Lancashire, Cheshire etc, scale about 10.5 miles to 1 inch, by Gerard Mercator, Duisberg, Germany, 1595, edition 1613-16.

MER5WmdA.jpg
""
double line with stream lines; river, running into Windermere lake not into the Brathay
item:- Armitt Library : 2008.14.3
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old map:- Speed 1611 (Wmd)

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.

SP14NY30.jpg
double line, from Rydal Water into Grasmere, from thence into Windermere
item:- Armitt Library : 2008.14.5
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old map:- Jansson 1646

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.

JAN3NY30.jpg
Double wiggly line.
item:- JandMN : 88
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old map:- Ogilby 1675 (plate 96)

source data:-

Road strip map, hand coloured engraving, the Road from Kendal to Cockermouth, and the Road from Egremond to Carlisle, scale about 1 inch to 1 mile, by John Ogilby, London, 1675.

OG96m010.jpg
In mile 13, Westmoreland.
River alongside off the left of the road, running into lake Windermere.
In mile 14, Westmerland.
River alongside the road on the left, running out of Rydal Water.
item:- JandMN : 22
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old map:- Sanson 1679

source data:-

Map, hand coloured engraving, Ancien Royaume de Northumberland aujourdhuy Provinces de Nort, ie the Ancient Kingdom of Northumberland or the Northern Provinces, scale about 9.5 miles to 1 inch, by Nicholas Sanson, Paris, France, 1679.

click to enlarge
SAN2Cm.jpg
tapering wiggly line; river
item:- Dove Cottage : 2007.38.15
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old map:- Seller 1694 (Wmd)

source data:-

Map, hand coloured engraving, Westmorland, scale about 8 miles to 1 inch, by John Seller, 1694.

click to enlarge
SEL7.jpg
tapering wiggly line; river
item:- Dove Cottage : 2007.38.87
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old map:- Morden 1695 (Wmd)

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.

MD10NY30.jpg
River from Rydal Water into Windermere.
item:- JandMN : 24
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old map:- Badeslade 1742
placename:-

source data:-

Map, uncoloured engraving, A Map of Westmorland North from London, scale about 10 miles to 1 inch, with descriptive text, by Thomas Badeslade, London, engraved and published by William Henry Toms, Union Court, Holborn, London, 1742.

click to enlarge
BD12.jpg
""
tapering wiggly line
item:- Dove Cottage : 2007.38.62
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old map:- Simpson 1746 map (Wmd)

source data:-

Map, uncoloured engraving, Westmorland, scale about 8 miles to 1 inch, printed by R Walker, Fleet Lane, London, 1746.

SMP2NYF.jpg
Wiggly line; into Windermere.
item:- Dove Cottage : 2007.38.59
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old map:- Bowen and Kitchin 1760
placename:- Rothey, River

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.

BO18NY20.jpg
wiggly line, into Grasmere lake

BO18SD29.jpg
wiggly line, into Windermere
item:- Armitt Library : 2008.14.10
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old map:- Jefferys 1770 (Wmd)

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.

J5NY30NW.jpg

J5NY30NE.jpg

J5NY30SE.jpg
single or double wiggly line; river
item:- National Library of Scotland : EME.s.47
Images © National Library of Scotland

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 72:- "..."
"The principal feeders of Windermere-water, are the rivers Rothay and Brathay.- They unite their streams at the western corner of the head of the lake, below Clappersgate, at a place called the Three-foot-brander, and after a short course boldly enter the lake."

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Rev Plumtre's Night Piece on Windermere, 1797
Page 229:- "..."
"Hark! along his rocky shore, / I hear impetuous Brathay roar; / In sullen majesty he leads, / Among the narrow winding meads, / His tributary tides. / Thee, Rothay, in thy course he meets, / Descending from thy flow'ry bed, / Swift to thee he fondly glides, / With strong embrace thy beauty greets: /"

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Page 230:- "Then, with all your glittering train, / Together your proud course maintain, / And with imperial Windermere, / All your boastful honours share; / With loud acclaim, exulting, hail! / The monarch of the stately vale."
"..."

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Page 231:- "..."
"But, Rothay, you a gentler tide, / Serenely through the valleys glide. / Peaceful Grasmere's wooded hills, / Pour forth for you their tinkling rills."

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Page 232:- "Through Rydal's lake, with placid stream, / You, murmuring, in the valley gleam; / And, at the neighbouring water's fall, / Pass your Fleming's stately hall; / For, O 'tis your delight to boast / The falls down Rydal's mountains tost; / The high cascade, with dashing spray, / O'er rugged rocks maintains its way, / With stubbed trees, by storms despoil'd - / A scene most picturesquely wild, / Sublime the next cascade appears, / The lower, softer features wears."
"Such scenes nor Poussin could, nor Claude, / In living canvas e'er afford; / For nature ev'ry effort tried / To form your Fleming's wat'ry pride. / - Nor be forgot thy force, Stock-gill, / Rushing from the shatter'd hill, / Down in frothy torrents tost, / Till in the dark abysm lost, / And foaming through the woody glen, / Thund'ring from rock to rock amain, / You seek a refuge in the plain."
"O Rothay! yours, and Brathay's stream, / Enfold (Well worth the Muse's theme) / A spot where Art with Nature vies / To catch the enraptur'd poet's eyes. / But be it most his pride to tell, / There Elegance and Virtue dwell; / There Hospitality is found / Dealing delight to all around, / ..."

evidence:-

old map:- Crosthwaite 1783-94 (Win/Ble)
placename:- Routhay River

source data:-

Map, uncoloured engraving, An Accurate Map of the Grand Lake of Windermere, scale about 2 inches to 1 mile, by Peter Crosthwaite, Keswick, Cumberland, 1783, version published 1819.

CT9NY30R.jpg
"Routhay R."
"Lancashire / Westmorland"
labelled either side of the river
item:- Armitt Library : 2008.14.102
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old map:- West 1784 map

source data:-

Map, hand coloured engraving, A Map of the Lakes in Cumberland, Westmorland and Lancashire, scale about 3.5 miles to 1 inch, engraved by Paas, 53 Holborn, London, about 1784.

Ws02NY30.jpg
item:- Armitt Library : A1221.1
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old map:- Clarke 1787 map (Ambleside to Keswick)

source data:-

Map, A Map of the Roads Lakes etc between Keswick and Ambleside, scale about 2.5 ins to 1 mile, by James Clarke, engraved by S J Neele, 352 Strand, published by James Clarke, Penrith, Cumberland and in London etc, 1787.

CL9NY30J.jpg

CL9NY30I.jpg

CL9NY30N.jpg

CL9NY30T.jpg

CL9NY30S.jpg
item:- private collection : 10.9
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old map:- Clarke 1787 map (Windermere N)
placename:- Rothay, River

source data:-

Map, A Map of the Northern Part of the Lake Winandermere and its Environs, scale about 6.5 ins to 1 mile, by James Clarke, engraved by Samuel John Neele, 352 Strand, published by James Clarke, Penrith, Cumberland and in London etc, 1787.

CLANY30S.jpg

CLANY30R.jpg
"Rr. ROTHAY"
item:- private collection : 10.10
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old map:- Cary 1789 (edn 1805)

source data:-

Map, uncoloured engraving, Westmoreland, scale about 2.5 miles to 1 inch, by John Cary, London, 1789; edition 1805.

CY24NY30.jpg
river running through Grasmere and Rydal lakes and into the Brathay
item:- JandMN : 129
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old drawing:- Green 1790s-1820s

source data:-

Drawing, pen and wash, Confluence of the Rivers Rothay and Brathay, Westmorland, by William Green, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1810.

click to enlarge
PR1728.jpg

courtesy of Abbot Hall Art Gallery, Kendal
item:- Abbot Hall : AH334.63
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old map:- Cooke 1802

source data:-

Map, The Lakes, Westmorland and Cumberland, scale about 8.5 miles to 1 inch, engravedby Neele and Son, published by Sherwood, Jones and Co, Paternoster Road, London, 1824.

click to enlarge
GRA1Lk.jpg
tapering wiggly line; river
item:- Hampshire Museums : FA2000.62.5
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old map:- Cooper 1808

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.

click to enlarge
COP4.jpg
tapering wiggly line; river
item:- Dove Cottage : 2007.38.53
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old print:- Green 1810 (plate 16)

source data:-

Print, soft ground etching, Pelter Bridge, Rydal, Westmorland, by William Green, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1808.

click to enlarge
GN1216.jpg
Plate 16 in Sixty Studies from Nature, 1810.
printed at top right:- "16"
printed at bottom:- "PELTER BRIDGE, RYDAL. / Drawn and Engraved by William Green and Published at Ambleside, June 24, 1808."
watermark:- "J WHATMAN / 1813"
item:- Armitt Library : A6641.16
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old print:- Green 1810 (plate 17)
item:- chimney

source data:-

Print, soft ground etching, Cottage at Rydal, Westmorland, by William Green, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1810.

click to enlarge
GN1217.jpg
This might be Manor Cottage?
Plate 17 in Sixty Studies from Nature, 1810.
printed at top right:- "17"
printed at bottom:- "COTTAGE AT RYDAL. / Drawn and Engraved by William Green, and Published at Ambleside, June 24, 1810."
watermark:- "J WHATMAN / 1813"
item:- Armitt Library : A6641.17
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old print:- Green 1815
item:- cattle

source data:-

Print, coloured aquatint, Outlet to Grasmere Lake, Westmorland, by William Green, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1815.

click to enlarge
GN0527.jpg
The River Rothay.
Plate 29 in Lake Scenery.
printed at upper right:- "29"
printed at bottom:- "OUTLET to GRASMERE LAKE. / Published at Ambleside, June 1, 1815, by Wm. Green."
item:- Armitt Library : A6646.27
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old map:- Hall 1820 (Wmd)

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.

click to enlarge
HA18.jpg
tapering wiggly line; river
item:- Armitt Library : 2008.14.58
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

descriptive text:- Otley 1823 (5th edn 1834)
item:- fishing; char; trout

source data:-

Guide book, A Concise Description of the English Lakes, the mountains in their vicinity, and the roads by which they may be visited, with remarks on the mineralogy and geology of the district, by Jonathan Otley, published by the author, Keswick, Cumberland now Cumbria, by J Richardson, London, and by Arthur Foster, Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria, 1823; published 1823-49, latterly as the Descriptive Guide to the English Lakes.

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Page 3:- "... The principal feeders of the lake [Windermere] are the Rothay, having its source in Grasmere; and the Brathay, issuing from Langdale. These two rivers unite their streams about half a mile before entering the lake; and a remarkable circumstance is, that the trout and char, both leaving the lake about the same time to deposit their spawn, separate themselves into the two different rivers; the trout making choice of the Rothay, and the char the Brathay."

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Page 41:- "The becks of Great and Little Langdale combined form the Brathay, and those of Grasmere the Rothay, which unite in Windermere: ..."

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.

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Page 24:- "..."
"[Windermere] ... The chief feeders are the streams of the Rothay and Brathay, which unite at the landing-place. The former, descending from the Raise Gap and from Easedale Tarn, passes through Grasmere and Rydal; ..."

evidence:-

old drawing:- Aspland 1840s-60s

source data:-

Drawing, pencil, River Rothay, Westmorland, by Theophilus Lindsey Aspland, about 1849.

click to enlarge
AS0123.jpg
"Rothay / Wray Castle"
item:- Armitt Library : 1958.487.23
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old map:- Garnett 1850s-60s H

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.

GAR2NY30.jpg
wiggly line, river
item:- JandMN : 82.1
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old text:- Martineau 1855

source data:-

Guide book, A Complete Guide to the English Lakes, by Harriet Martineau, published by John Garnett, Windermere, Westmorland, and by Whittaker and Co, London, 1855; published 1855-76.

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Page 19:- "..."
"Two rivers fall into the lake, uniting just before they reach it;- the Rothay, which comes down from Dunmail Raise, beyond Grasmere, and the Brathay, ... The valleys of the Rothay and the Brathay are separated by Loughrigg ..."

evidence:-

old map:- Prior 1874 map 1
placename:- Rothay, River

source data:-

Map, uncoloured engraving or lithograph? Winander Mere, scale about 2.5 miles to 1 inch, published by John Garnett, Windermere, Westmorland, 1874.

click to enlarge
PI03M1.jpg
"R. Rothay"
double line with stream lines; river
item:- private collection : 133.1
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

probably old photograph:- Bell 1880s-1940s

source data:-

Photograph, black and white, stereo photo, Near Stepping Stones, presumably on the Rothay River, Loughrigg, Westmorland, by Herbert Bell, photographer, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1900s?

click to enlarge
HB0979.jpg
ms at mount:- "Near Stepping Stones"
printed at rev of mount:- "Herbert Bell / Ambleside."
item:- Armitt Library : 2005.159
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-