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Wasdale Head, Nether Wasdale
Wasdale Head
Row
locality:-   Wasdale
civil parish:-   Nether Wasdale (formerly Cumberland)
county:-   Cumbria
locality type:-   locality
locality type:-   buildings
coordinates:-   NY18690880 (etc) 
1Km square:-   NY1808
10Km square:-   NY10


photograph
BQO28.jpg (taken 12.5.2009)  
photograph
BMB51.jpg (taken 11.5.2006)  

evidence:-   old map:- Saxton 1579
placename:-  Wasdale Chapel
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
Sax9NY11.jpg
Building, symbol for a hamlet, which may or may not have a nucleus.  "Wasdale chap:"
item:-  private collection : 2
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old map:- Mercator 1595 (edn?) 
placename:-  Wasdale Chapelry
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, Northumbria, Cumberlandia, et Dunelmensis Episcopatus, ie Northumberland, Cumberland and Durham etc, scale about 6.5 miles to 1 inch, by Gerard Mercator, Duisberg, Germany, about 1595.
image
MER8CumE.jpg
"Wasdale chap."
circle 
item:-  JandMN : 169
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   perhaps old map:- Keer 1605
placename:-  Wasdale Chapel
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
"Wasdale chap"
dot, circle and tower; village 
item:-  Dove Cottage : 2007.38.110
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old map:- Jenner 1643
placename:-  Wasdale Chapel
source data:-   Tables of distances with a maps, Westmerland, scale about 16 miles to 1 inch, and Cumberland, scale about 21 miles to 1 inch, published by Thomas Jenner, London, 1643; published 1643-80.
image
JEN4Sq.jpg
"Wasdale chap"
circle 

evidence:-   old map:- Seller 1694 (Cmd) 
placename:-  Wasdale Chapel
source data:-   Map, uncoloured engraving, Cumberland, scale about 12 miles to 1 inch, by John Seller, 1694.
image  click to enlarge
SEL9.jpg
"Wasdale Chap."
circle, italic lowercase text; settlement or house 
item:-  Dove Cottage : 2007.38.89
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old map:- Badeslade 1742
placename:-  Warsdale Chapel
source data:-   Map, uncoloured engraving, A Map of Cumberland North from London, scale about 11 miles to 1 inch, with descriptive text, by Thomas Badeslade, London, engraved and published by William Henry Toms, Union Court, Holborn, London, 1742.
image  click to enlarge
BD10.jpg
"Warsdale C."
circle, italic lowercase text; village, hamlet or locality, at the head of Wast Water 
item:-  JandMN : 115
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old map:- Simpson 1746 map (Wmd) 
placename:-  Warsdale
source data:-   Map, uncoloured engraving, Westmorland, scale about 8 miles to 1 inch, printed by R Walker, Fleet Lane, London, 1746.
image
SMP2NYA.jpg
"Warsdale"
Building. 
item:-  Dove Cottage : 2007.38.59
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old map:- Donald 1774 (Cmd) 
placename:-  Wastdale Head
placename:-  Row
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, 3x2 sheets, The County of Cumberland, scale about 1 inch to 1 mile, by Thomas Donald, engraved and published by Joseph Hodskinson, 29 Arundel Street, Strand, London, 1774.
image
D4NY10NE.jpg
"Wastdale Head"
blocks, and usually a church, labelled in upright lowercase; a village  "Row"
block or blocks, labelled in lowercase; a hamlet or just a house 
item:-  Carlisle Library : Map 2
Image © Carlisle Library

evidence:-   old text:- Clarke 1787
placename:-  Wasdalehead
item:-  Herdwick sheepsheepstormsnow
source data:-   Guide book, A Survey of the Lakes of Cumberland, Westmorland, and Lancashire, written and published by James Clarke, Penrith, Cumberland, and in London etc, 1787; published 1787-93.
image CL13P098, button  goto source
Page 98:-  "... There is a kind of sheep in these mountains called Herdwicks, which when fed to the highest growth, seldom exceed nine or ten pounds a quarter; they, contrary to all other sheep I have met with, are seen before a storm, especially of snow, to ascend against the coming blast, and take the stormy side of the mountain, which, fortunately for themselves, saves them from being over-blown. This valuable instinct was first discovered by the people of Wasdalehead, a small village, whose limits join those of Borrowdale. They, to keep this breed as much as possible in their own village, bound themselves in a bond, that no one of them should sell above five ewe (or female) lambs in one year; means, however, were found to smuggle more, so that all the shepherds now have either the whole or half breed of them; especially where the mountains are very high, as in Borrowdale, Newlands, and Skiddow, where they have not hay for them in winter. These sheep lye upon the very tops of the mountains in that season as well as in summer; and, as I said before, keep to the stormy side, where the wind blows the snow off the surface of the ground."
"If a calm snow fall, the shepherds take a harrow, and drag it themselves over the tallest heath, or ling; the snow then falls to the bottom, and the sheep feed upon the tops of it, and the moss which grows upon the stones. They are so remarkably wild and stupid in their temper, that in forcing them by dogs to washing, shearing, &c. they have laid down and died without much fatigue."
"Whence this breed first came I cannot learn; the inhabitants of Nether Wasdale say they were taken from on board a stranded ship, however, till within these few years, their number was very small: they grow very little wool; eight or nine of them jointly not producing more than a stone, yet their wool is pretty good."

evidence:-   old map:- Cooke 1802
placename:-  Wastedale Head
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.
image  click to enlarge
GRA1Lk.jpg
"Wastedale Head"
blocks, italic lowercase text, village, hamlet, locality 
item:-  Hampshire Museums : FA2000.62.5
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old map:- Laurie and Whittle 1806
placename:-  Wastdale Head
source data:-   Road map, Completion of the Roads to the Lakes, scale about 10 miles to 1 inch, by Nathaniel Coltman? 1806, published by Robert H Laurie, 53 Fleet Street, London, 1834.
image  click to enlarge
Lw18.jpg
"Wastdale Head 279¾"
village or other place; distance from London 
item:-  private collection : 18.18
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old text:- Green 1810
placename:-  Wastdale Head
source data:-   Set of prints, soft ground etchings, Sixty Studies from Nature, by William Green, Ambleside, Westmorland, drawn 1808-10, published 1810.
image GN14p080, button  goto source
page 81:-  "..."
"At Wastdale Head are six dwellings: In this dale the wood is scanty, but as it thrives well, it is a pity the shepherds do not plant more; for, by so doing, they would make this sequestered region a pastoral Paradise: From the highest house in the valley it is scarcely two miles to the head of Wast Water."
"..."
image GN14p086, button  goto source
page 86:-  "..."
"Speaking of Wastdale Head, it may be necessary to observe that the worthy inhabitants of that at once hospitable and inhospitable region, occasionally accommodate the weary traveller with lodging, and with food and raiment too, from their kine and fleecy stores; for which, however, (with the Swiss minister on the like occasion) they will accept a gratuity; and, who would not offer it with thanks for such hospitality, particularly when conferred with a politeness that would little be expected by a southern Englishman."

evidence:-   old print:- Wilkinson 1810 (plate 42) 
item:-  walker
source data:-   Print, uncoloured soft ground etching, View on the Banks of Wast Water, Cumberland, by Joseph Wilkinson, engraved by William Frederick Wells, published by R Ackermann, Repository of Arts, 101 Strand, London, 1810.
image  click to enlarge
WKN142.jpg
Perhaps Sca Fell behind. 
Plate 42 in Select Views in Cumberland, Westmoreland, and Lancashire. 
printed at bottom left, right, centre:-  "The Revd. Jos. Wilkenson delt. / W. F. Wells sculpt. / View on the Banks of Wast-water. / Published April. 1. 1810. by R. Ackermann. 101. Strand. London."
item:-  Fell and Rock Climbing Club : MN4.42
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old print with text:- Farington 1816
placename:-  Wasdale Village
source data:-   Print, uncoloured engraving and descriptive text, Wastdale Village, Nether Wasdale, Cumberland, drawn by Joseph Farington, engraved by J Landseer, published by T Cadell and W Davies, Strand, London, 1815.
image  click to enlarge
FA0418.jpg
printed, bottom left, right, centre  "Drawn by J. Farington R.A. / Engraved by J. Landseer A.R.A. / Wastdale Village. / London Published Septr. 15, 1815, by T. Cadell &W. Davies, Strand."
Descriptive text:-  "WASTDALE VILLAGE,"
"IS situated among the western mountains of Cumberland, about two miles north from Eskdale; and has in its front the Lake of Wast-Water. From the difficulty of access to these interesting objects, except on the side of Egremont, this Village and Lake are seldom visited by strangers, but the traveller will be well rewarded on approaching the secluded and truly alpine valley in which the village is situated. Here every thing is rural, and seen in the true style of pastoral beauty and simplicity. Excepting the opening towards the Lake the valley is closely surrounded by mountains. ..."
item:-  Armitt Library : A6666.18
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old map:- Otley 1818
placename:-  Wasdale Head
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
OT02NY10.jpg
item:-  JandMN : 48.1
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old map:- Hall 1820 (Cmd) 
placename:-  Wasdale Head
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, Cumberland, scale about 21 miles to 1 inch, engraved by Sidney Hall, published by S Leigh, 18 Strand, London, 1820-31.
image  click to enlarge
HA14.jpg
"Wasdale Hd."
circle, italic lowercase text; settlement 
item:-  JandMN : 91
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   descriptive text:- Otley 1823 (5th edn 1834) 
item:-  stone wallpopulation, Wasdale Headdevelopmentrusticitypovertygeology
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.
image OT01P030, button  goto source
Page 30:-  "Wasdale Head consists of about half a dozen dwellings sheltered by trees, and a small Chapel, in the midst of an area of arable land, encircled by the loftiest mountains. A public house here is much wanted by travellers; on which account the hospitality of the inhabitants is not unfrequently drawn upon by strangers."
"..."
image OT01P130, button  goto source
Page 130:-  "Wasdale Head comprises a level area of 400 acres of land, divided by stone walls into small irregular fields, which have been cleared with great industry and labour; as appears from the enormous heaps of stones, piled up from the surplus after completing the inclosures. Here six or seven families have their Chapel, of a size proportionate to the number of inhabitants, and in a style according with the situation; and what Mr. Gray formerly said of Grasmere, may with equal propriety be applied to this vale: 'Not a single red tile, no gentleman's flaring house, or garden walls, break in upon the repose of this little unsuspected paradise; but all is peace, rusticity, and happy poverty, in its neatest, most becoming attire.'"
"..."
image OT01P149, button  goto source
Page 149:-  "A variety of granite with reddish felspar, and which from a deficiency of mica, has sometimes been"
image OT01P151, button  goto source
Page 151:-  "called sienite, ... may be seen shooting up in places, almost as far as Bootle, and also at Wasdale Head. ... It contains veins of red hematite and micaceous iron ore. ..."

evidence:-   descriptive text:- Ford 1839 (3rd edn 1843) 
placename:-  Wastdale Head
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 FD01P071, button  goto source
Page 71:-  "..."
"... the deep, confined, and fruitful valley of Wastdale Head, with its chapel and half-dozen houses scattered upon a plain of meadow and corn-ground, divided into chequers by stone walls. Beyond, within a bed of steep rocky mountains of pure, unmixed, impenetrable sterility, is the long, narrow, stern, and desolate lake of Wast Water, to the head of which from these houses it is two miles. Refreshment may be had at any of these very respectable statesmen, and the tourist will not offend them by offer-"
image FD01P072, button  goto source
Page 72:-  "[offer]ing a sufficient remuneration for their civility and trouble. Near their dwelling is the humble Chapel of Ease, past which a mountain track leads under Scafell by Burnmoor Tarn into Eskdale."
image FD01P171, button  goto source
Page 171:-  "... country is more distinguished by sublimity."
"Wastdale Head contains only a few scattered houses; and its small chapel has only eight pews, and is without a burial-ground."

evidence:-   old map:- Ford 1839 map
placename:-  Wastdale Head
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
FD02NY11.jpg
"Wastdale Head"
item:-  JandMN : 100.1
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old map:- Garnett 1850s-60s H
placename:-  Wasdale Head
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
GAR2NY10.jpg
"Wasdale Hd."
cross, a church 
item:-  JandMN : 82.1
Image © see bottom of page

 Martineau Directory 1855

evidence:-   old photograph:- Bell 1880s-1940s
source data:-   Photograph, black and white, Wasdale Head, Nether Wasdale, Cumberland, by Herbert Bell, photographer, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1890s.
image  click to enlarge
HB0773.jpg
internegative at lower left:-  "H. Bell"
stamped at reverse:-  "HERBERT BELL / Photographer / AMBLESIDE"
item:-  Armitt Library : ALPS436
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old photograph:- Bell 1880s-1940s
source data:-   Photograph, black and white, Wasdale Head and Great Gable, Nether Wasdale, Cumberland, by Herbert Bell, photographer, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1890s.
image  click to enlarge
HB0774.jpg
stamped at reverse:-  "HERBERT BELL / Photographer / AMBLESIDE"
item:-  Armitt Library : ALPS437
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old photograph:- Bell 1880s-1940s
source data:-   Photograph, black and white, Wasdale Head, Kirk Fell behind, Nether Wasdale, Cumberland, by Herbert Bell, photographer, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1890s.
image  click to enlarge
HB0905.jpg
item:-  Armitt Library : ALPS580
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old print:- Heaton Cooper 1905 (edn 1908) 
placename:-  Wastdalehead
source data:-   Print, colour halftone, Wastdalehead, Wastwater, Nether Wasdale, Cumberland, from a watercolour painting by Alfred Heaton Cooper, published by Adam and Charles Black, London, 2nd edn 1908.
image  click to enlarge
HC0136.jpg
Opposite p.94 of The English Lakes, painted by Alfred Heaton Cooper, described by William T Palmer. 
printed at tissue opposite the print:-  "WASTDALEHEAD, WASTWATER"
printed at signed lower right:-  "A HEATON COOPER"
item:-  JandMN : 468.36
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old map:- Post Office 1850s-1900s
placename:-  Wasdale Head
source data:-   Post road maps, General Post Office Circulation Map for England and Wales, for the General Post Office, London, 1850s-1900s.
image  click to enlarge
POF7Cm.jpg
"Wasdale Head"
map date 1909 

:-  
images courtesy of the British Postal Museum and Hampshire CC Museums

evidence:-   old print:- Barber and Atkinson 1927
source data:-   Print, halftone photograph, Looking into Mosedale, view of Wasdale Head, Nether Wasdale, Cumberland, published by James Atkinson, Caxton Printing Works, Ulverston, Lancashire, 1928.
image  click to enlarge
AK0408.jpg
Tipped in opposite p.38 of Lakeland Passes, by John B Barber and George Atkinson, 1927, 3rd edn 1928. 
at inter negative:-  "WASDALE HEAD. / Atkinsons Series 1266."
printed at bottom:-  "Looking into Mosedale and showing (right) path to Black Sail. (To face page 38."
item:-  JandMN : 350.9
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old photograph:- Bogg 1898
item:-  climbing
source data:-   Photograph, halftone print, Wasdale Head and Great Gable, Nether Wasdale, Cumberland, by F Leach, published by Edmund Bogg, 3 Woodhouse Lane, and James Miles, Guildford Street, Leeds, Yorkshire, 1898.
image  click to enlarge
BGG157.jpg
Included on p.168 of Lakeland and Ribblesdale, by Edmund Bogg. 
item:-  JandMN : 231.57
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old print:- Sylvan 1847
placename:-  Wastdale Head
source data:-   Print, engraving, Wastdale Head, Nether Wasdale, Cumberland, published by John Johnstone, Paternoster Row, London, et al, 1847.
image  click to enlarge
SYL156.jpg
On p.216 of Sylvan's Pictorial Guide to the English Lakes. 
printed at bottom:-  "WASTDALE HEAD."
item:-  Armitt Library : A1201.56
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old print:- Rose 1832-35
placename:-  Wastdale Head
source data:-   Print, engraving, Wastdale Head, Scawfell Pikes, Cumberland, by Thomas Allom, engraved by S Lacey, 1833.
image  click to enlarge
R258.jpg
"Wastdale Head, Scawfell Pikes, Cumberland"
item:-  JandMN : 96.19
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old print with text:- Farington 1816 (plate 25) 
placename:-  Wastdale Village
source data:-   Print, uncoloured engraving, Wastdale Village, drawn by Joseph Farington, engraved by J Landseer, published by T Cadell and W Davies, Strand, London, 1815.
image  click to enlarge
BNV37.jpg
Plate 25 in The Lakes of Lancashire, Westmorland and Cumberland ... with text by Thomas Hartwell Horne:-  "WASTDALE VILLAGE, / IS situated among the western mountains of Cumberland, about two miles north from Eskdale; and has in its front the Lake of Wast-Water. From the difficulty of access to these interesting objects, except on the side of Egremont, this Village and Lake are seldom visited by strangers, but the traveller will be well rewarded on approaching the secluded and truly alpine valley in which the village is situated. Here every thing is rural, and seen in the true style of pastoral beauty and simplicity. ..."
item:-  private collection : 76
Image © see bottom of page


photograph
BQX08.jpg (taken 25.6.2009)  
photograph
BMB52.jpg  The emblem of the Lake District National Park.
(taken 11.5.2006)  

places:-  
SD45098959 Back Lane (Crosthwaite and Lyth)
SD45128922 Row Barn (Crosthwaite and Lyth)
SD45158951 Brow Head (Crosthwaite and Lyth)
SD45148937 cattle trough, Row (Crosthwaite and Lyth)
NY62743462 chapel, Ousby (Ousby)
SD44948936 Copup Hill (Crosthwaite and Lyth)
NY18910818 footbridge, Wasdale Head (Nether Wasdale)
SD45168927 house, Row (Crosthwaite and Lyth)
SD44938932 limekiln, Row (Crosthwaite and Lyth) L
SD45188923 Maze Well (Crosthwaite and Lyth) gone?
SD45178931 Megbeck Well (Crosthwaite and Lyth)
SD45178920 Michael Yeat (Crosthwaite and Lyth)
NY18650879 Middle Row (Nether Wasdale)
SD45078924 Nancy Cottage (Crosthwaite and Lyth)
NY18300591 Old Corpse Road (Eskdale)
NY62753463 post box, Ousby (Ousby)
NY18670871 post box, Wasdale Head (Nether Wasdale)
NY185095 Ritson Force (Nether Wasdale)
NY18640882 Row Bridge (Nether Wasdale) L
SD45128923 Row Farm House (Crosthwaite and Lyth)
NY62783466 Row Head Farm (Ousby)
NY18720888 Row Head (Nether Wasdale)
SD45358914 Row Lane (Crosthwaite and Lyth)
SD45118943 Row Road (Crosthwaite and Lyth)
NY18650839 Wasdale Head school (Nether Wasdale)
SD45058926 seat, Row (Crosthwaite and Lyth)
SD44978929 sheepfold, Row (Crosthwaite and Lyth)
SD44938948 Shepherd's Tenement (Crosthwaite and Lyth)
SD44938926 spring, Row (Crosthwaite and Lyth)
NY63183433 St Luke's Church (Ousby) L
NY18850869 St Olaf's Church (Nether Wasdale) L
NY18940876 stone wall, Wasdale Head (Nether Wasdale)
NY19010886 stone wall, Wasdale Head (2) (Nether Wasdale)
SD45128917 Tommy Well (Crosthwaite and Lyth)
NY18630875 Wasdale Head Inn (Nether Wasdale)
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