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St John's in the Vale
civil parish:-   St John's Castlerigg and Wythburn (formerly Cumberland)
county:-   Cumbria
locality type:-   valley
coordinates:-   NY31602251 (etc) 
1Km square:-   NY3122
10Km square:-   NY32

photograph
BXN75.jpg (taken 21.10.2012)  
photograph
 Click to enlarge
BXM57.jpg  From above Threlkeld.
(taken 12.10.2012)  
evidence:-   old map:- Saxton 1579
placename:-  St Johns
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
SAX9NY32.jpg
circle, building  "Sct Johns"
item:-  private collection : 2
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- Speed 1611 (Cmd) 
placename:-  St John's
source data:-   Map, hand coloured engraving, Cumberland and the Ancient Citie Carlile Described, scale about 4 miles to 1 inch, by John Speed, 1610, published by J Sudbury and George Humble, Popes Head Alley, London, 1611-12.
image
SP11NY32.jpg
"St. Johns"
circle, tower 
item:-  private collection : 16
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- Jansson 1646
placename:-  St Johns
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
JAN3NY32.jpg
"S. Iohns"
Buildings and tower. 
item:-  JandMN : 88
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- Morden 1695
placename:-  St Johns
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
MD12NY32.jpg
circle, building, tower  "St. Johns"
item:-  JandMN : 90
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old text:- Gents Mag
source data:-   Magazine, The Gentleman's Magazine or Monthly Intelligencer or Historical Chronicle, published by Edward Cave under the pseudonym Sylvanus Urban, and by other publishers, London, monthly from 1731 to 1922.
image G7550006, button  goto source
Gentleman's Magazine 1755 p.6:-  "During the lightnings mentioned in your last Mag. (See Vol. xxiv. p.571) 3 men were walking thro' St John's vale, over which the clouds, being pent in betwixt the high mountains, hung pretty low, and the lightnings were very frequent. The vale is about 500 yards wide, and two miles long, and after they had walked about a mile, one of them complained suddenly of uncommon oppression in his lungs, and presently afterwards dropt down dead. After some uneffectual attempts to recover and remove him, the survivors being alarmed by the approach of night, and the encrease of the tempest, went on as fast as they could. Soon after one of these made the same complaint, and almost instantly fell down dead, as the other had done: The third was now struck with astonishment and terror, and solicitude for himself suppressed for the present his concern for others; he immediately began to run, and expected every step to be his last, as he felt the same oppression on his breast, which every moment increased, however this went off after he had gone about a quarter of a mile, and he ran into to the first house pale, trembling, and exhaused, and as soon as he could speak directed the people to seek and succour his companions, whom they soon found, but all attempts to recover them proved ineffectual. G.S."
evidence:-   descriptive text:- West 1778 (11th edn 1821) 
placename:-  St John's Vale
placename:-  Vale of St John
placename:-  Nadale
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 WS21P202, button  goto source
Addendum; Mr Gray's Journal, 1769 
Page 202:-  "..."
"Oct. 2. I set out at ten for Keswick [from Penrith], ... The broad and green vallies of Gardies and Lowside, with a swift stream glittering among the cottages and meadows, lay to the left, and the much finer, but narrower valley of St. John, opening into it: ..."
image WS21P208, button  goto source
Page 208:-  "... [from Castlerigg] The valley of St. John appeared in sight, ..."
image WS21P305, button  goto source
Mrs Radcliffe's Ride over Skiddaw, 1794 
Page 305:-  "..."
"At length, as we ascended, ... An opening to the south, at length, showed the whole plan of the narrow vales of St. John and of Nadale, separated by the dark ridge of rocks called St. John's Rigg, with each its small line of verdure at the bottom, and bounded by enormous grey fells, which we were, however, now high enough to overlook. A white speck on the top of St. John's Rigg, was pointed out by the guide to be a chapel of ease to Keswick, ... From this chapel, dedicated to St. John, the rock and the vale have received their name; and our guide told us that Nadale was frequently known by the same title."
evidence:-   old painting:- Green 1790s-1820s (?) 
source data:-   Painting, watercolour, Rake How near Thirlmere, St John's Castlerigg and Wythburn, Cumberland, attributed to William Green, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1800s-20s?
image  click to enlarge
PR1725.jpg

courtesy of Abbot Hall Art Gallery, Kendal
item:-  Abbot Hall : SO32.94
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Green 1804 (plate 11) 
placename:-  St John's Vale
source data:-   Print, uncoloured aquatint, St John's Vale from Leathes Park, St John's Castlerigg and Wythburn, Cumberland, by William Green, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1804.
image  click to enlarge
GN1611.jpg
Plate 11 from a series. 
printed at bottom:-  "St John's Vale from Leathes Park, / 6 Miles from Keswick. / Drawn and Engraved by Wm. Green, and Published at Ambleside, June 24, 1804."
printed at top right:-  "11"
item:-  Armitt Library : 2014.158
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Green 1810 (plate 27) 
placename:-  St John's Vale
source data:-   Print, soft ground etching, St John's Vale, St John's Castlerigg and Wythburn, Cumberland, by William Green, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1808.
image  click to enlarge
GN1227.jpg
Plate 27 in Sixty Studies from Nature, 1810. 
printed at top right:-  "27"
printed at bottom:-  "ST. JOHN'S VALE. / Drawn and Engraved by William Green, and Published at Ambleside, June 24, 1808."
watermark:-  "J WHATMAN / 1813"
item:-  Armitt Library : A6641.27
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Wilkinson 1810 (plate 20) 
placename:-  St John's Vale
source data:-   Print, uncoloured soft ground etching, View in St John's Vale, with Green Crag etc, Cumberland, by Joseph Wilkinson, engraved by William Frederick Wells, published by R Ackermann, Repository of Arts, 101 Strand, London, 1810.
image  click to enlarge
WKN120.jpg
Plate 20 in Select Views in Cumberland, Westmoreland, and Lancashire. 
printed at bottom left, right, centre:-  "The Revd. Jos: Wilkinson delt. / W. F. Wells Sculpt. / View in St. John's Vale, with Green-crag &c. / Publish'd March 1. 1810. by R. Ackerman. 101. Strand. London."
item:-  Fell and Rock Climbing Club : MN4.20
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Wilkinson 1810 (plate 21) 
placename:-  St John's Vale
source data:-   Print, uncoloured soft ground etching, View in St John's Vale, near Wanthwaite, Cumberland, by Joseph Wilkinson, engraved by William Frederick Wells, published by R Ackermann, Repository of Arts, 101 Strand, London, 1810.
image  click to enlarge
WKN121.jpg
Plate 21 in Select Views in Cumberland, Westmoreland, and Lancashire. 
printed at bottom left, right, centre:-  "The Revd. Jos. Wilkenson delt. / W. F. Wells sculpt. / View in St. John's Vale, near Wanthwaite. / Publish'd April 1. 1810. by R. Ackermann. 101. Strand. London."
item:-  Fell and Rock Climbing Club : MN4.21
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Green 1814 (plate 28) 
placename:-  St John's Vale
item:-  chimney
source data:-   Print, uncoloured soft ground etching, Cottage in St John's Vale, St John's Castlerigg and Wythburn, Cumberland, by William Green, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1814.
image  click to enlarge
GN0928.jpg
S of Sosgill Bridge; unidentified. 
Plate 28 in Sixty Small Prints. 
printed at top right:-  "28"
printed at bottom:-  "COTTAGE IN ST JOHN'S VALE. / Published at Ambleside Augst. 1, 1814, by Wm. Green."
item:-  Armitt Library : A6656.28
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Green 1814 (plate 28) 
placename:-  St John's Vale
item:-  chimney
source data:-   Print, tinted soft ground etching, Cottage in St John's Vale, St John's Castlerigg and Wythburn, Cumberland, by William Green, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1814.
image  click to enlarge
GN1028.jpg
S of Sosgill Bridge; unidentified. 
Plate 28 in Sixty Small Prints. 
printed at top right:-  "28"
printed at bottom:-  "COTTAGE IN ST JOHN'S VALE. / Published at Ambleside Augst. 1, 1814, by Wm. Green."
item:-  Armitt Library : A6653.28
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Green 1815
placename:-  St Johns Vale
item:-  cattle
source data:-   Print, coloured aquatint, St Johns Vale, St John's Castlerigg and Wythburn, Cumberland, by William Green, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1815.
image  click to enlarge
GN0530.jpg
Plate 32 in Lake Scenery. 
printed at upper right:-  "32"
printed at bottom:-  "ST. JOHNS VALE. / Published at Ambleside, June 1, 1815, by Wm. Green."
item:-  Armitt Library : A6646.30
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- Hall 1820 (Cmd) 
placename:-  St Johns
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
"St Johns"
circle, italic lowercase text; settlement 
item:-  JandMN : 91
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Fielding and Walton 1821 (plate 1) 
placename:-  St John's Vale
source data:-   Print, coloured aquatint, Saddleback and St John's Vale, Cumberland, drawn by Theodore H A Fielding, published by R Ackermann, 101 Strand, London, 1821.
image  click to enlarge
FW0101.jpg
Frontispiece in A Picturesque Tour of the English Lakes. 
item:-  Dove Cottage : 1993.R566.1
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old drawing:- Aspland 1840s-60s
placename:-  St Johns Vale
source data:-   Drawing, pencil, St John's in the Vale, Cumberland, by Theophilus Lindsey Aspland, 1857.
image  click to enlarge
AS0548.jpg
"In St Johns Vale"
page number  "38"
item:-  Armitt Library : 1958.389.48
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old map:- Garnett 1850s-60s H
placename:-  Vale of St John
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
GAR2NY32.jpg
"Vale of St. John"
area 
item:-  JandMN : 82.1
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old text:- Martineau 1855
placename:-  Vale of St John
item:-  book; Bridal of Triermain
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.
image MNU1P070, button  goto source
Page 70:-  "[Vale of St. John] ..."
"One would like to know how often the Bridal of Triermain has been read within that vale. The Castle Rock, in its disenchanted condition, is a prominent object in approaching the vale [Vale of St. John] ..."
"... The narrow vale is full of character and charm, from end to end; and at its northern extremity it comes out upon a spot of strong historical interest. The village of Threlkeld"
evidence:-   old print:- Postlethwaite 1877
item:-  
source data:-   Print, photograph of microscope section, St John's Microgranite, Cumberland, published by W H Moss and Sons, 13 Lowther Street, Whitehaven, Cumberland, 1877 edn 1913.
image  click to enlarge
PST312.jpg
Tipped in opposite p.33 of Mines and Mining in the English Lake District, by John Postlethwaite. 
printed, bottom  "ST JOHN'S MICROGRANITE"
item:-  JandMN : 162.14
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old photograph:- Bell 1880s-1940s
source data:-   Photograph, sepia, St John's in the Vale, St John's Castlerigg and Wythburn, Cumberland, by Herbert Bell, photographer, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1890s.
image  click to enlarge
HB0746.jpg
item:-  Armitt Library : ALPS409
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old photograph:- Bell 1880s-1940s
source data:-   Photograph, black and white, St John's in the Vale, St John's Castlerigg and Wythburn, Cumberland, by Herbert Bell, photographer, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1890s.
image  click to enlarge
HB0730.jpg
item:-  Armitt Library : ALPS394
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Bemrose 1881
placename:-  Vale of St John
source data:-   Print, uncoloured, Vale of St John and Saddleback, Cumberland, published by Bemrose and Sons, 23 Old Bailey, London and Derby, by A B Moss, Carlisle, Cumberland, and by T Wilson, Kendal, Westmorland, about 1881.
image  click to enlarge
BEM118.jpg
On p.64 of a Handy Guide to the English Lakes and Shap Spa. 
printed at bottom:-  "VALE OF ST. JOHN AND SADDLEBACK."
item:-  JandMN : 455.20
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Heaton Cooper 1905 (edn 1908) 
placename:-  Vale of St John, The
source data:-   Print, colour halftone, The Vale of St John, near Keswick, St John's Castlerigg and Wythburn, Cumberland, from a watercolour painting by Alfred Heaton Cooper, 1903, published by Adam and Charles Black, London, 2nd edn 1908.
image  click to enlarge
HC0153.jpg
Opposite p.154 of The English Lakes, painted by Alfred Heaton Cooper, described by William T Palmer. 
printed at tissue opposite the print:-  "THE VALE OF ST. JOHN, NEAR KESWICK"
printed at signed lower left:-  "A HEATON COOPER [1903]"
item:-  JandMN : 468.53
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   text:- Mason 1907 (edn 1930) 
placename:-  Vale of St John's
source data:-   Text book, The Ambleside Geography Books bk.III, The Counties of England, by Charlotte M Mason, published by Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner and Co, Broadway House, 68-74 Carter Lane, and the Parents' Educational Union Office, 26 Victoria Street, London, edn 1930.
MSN1P021.txt
Page 21:-  "..."
"At the head of Thirlmere the road turns, and we get a peep down the sweet Vale of St. John's, watered by the Greta river. ..."
evidence:-   old print:- 
placename:-  St John's Vale
source data:-   Print, halftone photograph, St John's Vale, Keswick, by Mayson's, Keswick, published by Cumberland Motor Services, Tangier Street, Whitehaven, Cumberland, about 1926.
image  click to enlarge
CS107.jpg
On p.27 of Cumberland its Lakes and Mountains. 
lower right  "WP"
printed, bottom, left right  "Mayson's, Keswick, Photo. / St John's Vale, KESWICK showing Blencathra (Saddleback) in distance)."
item:-  JandMN : 1022.7
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Ritter 1849
placename:-  St John's Vale
item:-  harvest; corn stooks
source data:-   Print, uncoloured engraving, St John's Vale, St John's Castlerigg and Wythburn, Cumberland, published by the Religious Tract Society, The Depository, 56 Paternoster Row, and 65 St Paul's Churchyard, London, 1849?
image  click to enlarge
RT0105.jpg
Tipped opposite p.178 of Loitering among the Lakes of Cumberland and Westmoreland, by Paul Ritter? 
printed at bottom:-  "ST. JOHN'S VALE."
item:-  Fell and Rock Climbing Club : 2.6
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Prior 1865
placename:-  Vale of St John
source data:-   Print, uncoloured engraving, The Vale of St John and Saddleback, Cumberland, published by John Garnett, Windermere, Westmorland, and by Simpkin, Marshall and Co, London, 1865.
image  click to enlarge
PI0111.jpg
Included on page 87 of the guide book, Ascents and Passes in the Lake District of England, by Herman Prior. 
printed at bottom:-  "VALE OF ST. JOHN AND SADDLEBACK."
item:-  JandMN : 235.13
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Sylvan 1847
placename:-  Vale of St John
source data:-   Print, engraving, Vale of St John, and Saddleback, Cumberland, published by John Johnstone, Paternoster Row, London, et al, 1847.
image  click to enlarge
SYL144.jpg
On p.182 of Sylvan's Pictorial Guide to the English Lakes. 
printed at bottom:-  "VALE OF ST. JOHN, AND SADDLEBACK."
item:-  Armitt Library : A1201.44
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Harwood 1842
placename:-  Vale of St John
source data:-   Print, uncoloured engraving, Saddleback from the Vale of St John, Cumberland, engraved and published by John and Frederick Harwood, 26 Fenchurch Street, London, 1842.
image  click to enlarge
HRW211.jpg
printed at bottom left, right, centre:-  "London, J &F. Harwood, 26, Fenchurch Street. / No.471 Augt. 18, 1842. / Saddleback from the Vale of St. John."
item:-  JandMN : 166.11
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   outline view:- Tattersall 1836 (version 1869) 
placename:-  Vale of St John
source data:-   Print, hand coloured, Vale of St John, from the South, Cumberland, drawn by George Tattersall, 1836, engraved by W F Topham, published by T J Allman, 463 Oxford Street, London, 1869.
image  click to enlarge
TAT208.jpg
Included in The Lakes of England, by W F Topham. 
printed at bottom:-  "VALE OF ST. JOHN, / from the South."
printed at bottom:-  "Naddle Fell. / Saddleback. / Pt. of White Pike. / Castle Rock."
item:-  Armitt Library : A1067.8
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   outline view:- Tattersall 1836
placename:-  Vale of St John
source data:-   Print, engraving, View from Skiddaw, looking South, Cumberland, Westmorland and Lancashire, drawn by George Tattersall, engraved by W F Topham, published by Sherwood and Co, Paternoster Row, London, about 1836.
image  click to enlarge
TAT137.jpg
The print is captioned with mountain names and acts as an outline view. 
Tipped in opposite p.91 of The Lakes of England, by George Tattersall. 
printed at bottom:-  "VIEW FROM SKIDDAW, / looking South. / [London Pubd. ...]"
printed at p.91:-  "... FOUR VIEWS FROM THE SUMMIT OF SKIDDAW. III. LOOKING SOUTH. / ... / 2. Vale of St. John, Cumberland. / 3. Castle Rock, Vale of St. John / ..."
item:-  Armitt Library : A1204.38
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Green 1790s-1820s
placename:-  St John's Vale
source data:-   Print, uncoloured aquatint, St John's Vale from Leathes Park, drawn, engraved and published by William Green, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1804.
image  click to enlarge
PR0524.jpg
Plate 11 from some series. 
printed at bottom:-  "St. John's Vale from Leathes Park, / 6 Miles from Keswick. / Drawn and Engraved by Wm. Green, and Published at Ambleside, June 24, 1804."
item:-  Dove Cottage : 2008.107.473
Image © see bottom of page
hearsay:-  
 Waller, then teacher and poet, John Richardson was born here. His best known dialect poem is 'It's nobbut me'.
personal
person:-   waller; teacher; poet
 : Richardson, John
place:-   birthplace
date:-   1817
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