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Wishing Gate, Grasmere
locality:-   Grasmere (near) 
civil parish:-   Lakes (formerly Westmorland)
county:-   Cumbria
locality type:-   gate
locality type:-   gate stoup (dated) 
coordinates:-   NY34320650
1Km square:-   NY3406
10Km square:-   NY30


photograph
BVK27.jpg (taken 26.9.2011)  
photograph
CCZ92.jpg  Inscribed:-
"JOHN C SHAW / July 20 6[1] / GP 81" (taken 2015)  
Graffiti rather than serious dates?

evidence:-   old map:- OS County Series (Wmd 26 1) 
placename:-  Wishing Gate
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.
"Wishing Gate"

evidence:-   old drawing:- Aspland 1840s-60s
placename:-  Wishing Gate
source data:-   Drawing, pencil, the Wishing Gate, Grasmere, Westmorland, by Theophilus Lindsey Aspland, 31 August 1849.
image  click to enlarge
AS0133.jpg
"Wishing Gate Aug 31. 1849"
item:-  Armitt Library : 1958.487.33
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old drawing:- Aspland 1840s-60s
placename:-  Wishing Gate
source data:-   Drawing, pencil, Wishing Gate, Grasmere, Westmorland, by Theophilus Lindsey Aspland, September 1849.
image  click to enlarge
AS0137.jpg
"Sept. 1849. / Wishing Gate"
item:-  Armitt Library : 1958.487.37
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.
image MNU1P053, button  goto source
Page 53:-  "... The promontory which here causes the lake to contract to the little river [Rothay] ... may be passed in three ways. The mail road runs round its point, and therefore keeps beside the water;- the Roman road, where the Wishing Gate used to be, crosses it by a rather steep ascent and descent;- and a shorter road still, steeper and boggy, cuts across its narrowest part, and comes out at the Rydal Quarries. ..."

evidence:-   old print:- Payn 1867
placename:-  Wishing Gate, The
item:-  sheep
source data:-   Print, uncoloured engraving, The Wishing Gate, Grasmere, Westmorland, by T L Aspland, published by J Garnett, Windermere, Westmorland, 1867.
image  click to enlarge
PN0328.jpg
On p.57 of The Lakes in Sunshine, text by James Payn. 
printed at bottom:-  "THE WISHING-GATE."
item:-  Fell and Rock Climbing Club : 184.28
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old photograph:- Bell 1880s-1940s
source data:-   Photograph, black and white, The Wishing Gate, Grasmere, Westmorland, by Herbert Bell, photographer, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1890s.
image  click to enlarge
HB0576.jpg
stamped on reverse:-  "HERBERT BELL / Photographer / AMBLESIDE"
item:-  Armitt Library : ALPS236
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old print:- Pearson 1900s
placename:-  Wishing Gate, The
source data:-   Print, halftone photograph, The Wishing Gate, Grasmere, Westmorland, published by C Arthur Pearson, Henrietta Street, London, 1900s.
image  click to enlarge
PS1E48.jpg
On p.131 of Pearson's Gossipy Guide to the English Lakes and Neighbouring Districts. 
printed at bottom:-  "THE 'WISHING GATE', GRASMERE. (p.135)."
item:-  Armitt Library : A1188.55
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old print:- Goodwin 1887 (edn 1890) 
placename:-  Wishing Gate
source data:-   Print, etching? The Wishing Gate, Grasmere, Westmorland, by Harry Goodwin, published by Swan Sonnenschein and Co, Paternoster Square, London, 1890.
image  click to enlarge
PR1590.jpg
Tipped in opposite p.90 of Through the Wordsworth Country, by William Knight. 
item:-  JandMN : 382.20
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-   old print:- Payn 1860s-70s
placename:-  Wishing Gate, The
source data:-   Print, colour printed, Grasmere, from the Wishing Gate, Westmorland, published by John Garnett, Windermere, Westmorland, and by Simpkin, Marshall and Co, London, 1860s-70s?
image  click to enlarge
PN0108.jpg
Tipped in opposite p.37 of England's Lakeland, a Tour Therein, by James Payn. 
In the text - '... the Wishing Gate. / Most of us are familiar with the beautiful lines of Wordsworth under that title. ... The gate is now new (though well scored over with 'wishes' already), and the wall in its neighbourhood inconveniently and (we believe) maliciously high; but still, a peep over the topmost bar of that gate is not to be forgotten. ...' 
printed at bottom:-  "GRASMERE."
item:-  Armitt Library : A1183.8
Image © see bottom of page


photograph
CCS99.jpg  Hinge.
(taken 2.4.2015)  

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