Old Cumbria Gazetteer

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	Bowscale Tarn, Mungrisdale
runs into:-	Tarn Sike (2)
	Bowscale Tarn
locality:-	Bowscale Fell
civil parish:-	Mungrisdale (formerly Cumberland)
county:-	Cumbria
locality type:-	tarn
coordinates:-	NY33663134 (etc)
1Km square:-	NY3331
10Km square:-	NY33
altitude:-	1565 feet
altitude:-	477m
	BVC96.jpg (taken 3.8.2011)   Click to enlarge BVC98.jpg (taken 3.8.2011)
evidence:-	old map:- OS County Series (Cmd 57 1)  placename:-  Bowscale Tarn
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 text:- Gents Mag placename:-  Bouscale Tarn item:-  stars at midday
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.   goto source Gentleman's Magazine 1747 p.523  "[on a journey to Caldbeck Fells] ..." "[River Caldew] ... receives a small rivulet from Bouscale-tarn, a lake near a mile in circumference, on the side of a high mountain, so strangely surrounded with a more eminent amphitheatrical ridge of quarry rocks, that it is excluded the benefit of the sun for at least four months, in the middle of winter; but this is not its only singularity. Several of the most credible inhabitants thereabouts, affirming that they frequently see the stars in it at mid-day; but in order to discover that phaenomenon, the firmament must be perfectly clear, the air stable, and the water unagitated. These circumstances not concurring at the time I was there, depriv'd me of the pleasure of that sight, and of recommending it to the naturalists upon my own ocular evidence, which I regret the want of, as I question if the like has been any where else observed. The spectator must be situated at least 200 yards above the lake, and as much below the summit of the semi-ambient ridge; and as there are other high mountains, which in that position may break and deaden the solar rays, I can only give an implicit credit to the power of their agency, 'till I am convinc'd of their effects, and am qualified to send it better recommended to the publick."
evidence:-	old map:- Gents Mag 1747 placename:-  Bouse Scale Tarn
source data:-	Map, uncoloured engraving, perspective view, Caudbeck Fells ie Caldbeck Fells, scale about 1+ miles to 1 inch, published in the Gentleman's Magazine, 1747. GM1404.jpg "Bouse scale Tarn" outline, shaded; tarn; I have no other evidence of  "Slate quarries" marked here  item:-  Carlisle Library : Map 43 Image © Carlisle Library
evidence:-	old text:- Gents Mag 1747 placename:-  Bouscale Tarn item:-  stars at midday
source data:-	Map, perspective view, Caudbeck Fells ie Caldbeck Fells, scale about 1+ miles to 1 inch, and descriptive text, published in the Gentleman's Magazine, November 1747.   goto source Page 523:-  "... Bouscale-tarn, a lake near a mile in circumference, on the side of a high mountain, so strangely surrounded with a more eminent amphitheatrical ridge of quarry rocks, that it is excluded the benefit of the sun for at least four months, in the middle of winter; but this is not its only singularity. Several of the most credible inhabitants thereabouts, affirming that they frequently see the stars in it at mid-day; but in order to discover that phaenomenon, the firmament must be perfectly clear, the air stable, and the water unagitated. These circumstances not concurring at the time I was there, depriv'd me of the pleasure of that sight, and of recommending it to the naturalists upon my own ocular evidence, which I regret the want of, as I question if the like has been any where else observed. The spectator must be situated at least 200 yards above the lake, and as much below the summit of the semi-ambient ridge; and as there are other high mountains, which in that position may break and deaden the solar rays, I can only give an implicit credit to the power of their agency, 'till I am convinc'd of their effects, and am qualified to send it better recommended to the publick."
evidence:-	old map:- Donald 1774 (Cmd)  placename:-  Bowscale Tarn
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. D4NY33SW.jpg "Bowscale Tarn" lake  item:-  Carlisle Library : Map 2 Image © Carlisle Library
evidence:-	old text:- Clarke 1787 placename:-  Booth Scale Tarn item:-  Bosom Wind; wind
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.   goto source page xxxix:-  "..." "The Bosom-Wind is quite a different affair, and takes place wherever one object in the direction of the wind overlooks another, or universally where any thing breaks the current of the air that would otherwise impinge directly on the objects beyond it; this is particularly the case where large rocks screen things below them from the direct force of the wind, yet subject them to what is called a Bosom-Wind. Near the sources of the Caldew is a valley called Swineside, never visited by the rays of the sun during the Winter months: on the northern side of the hill which overshadows it in this manner, and at a considerable height above the valley, is a pretty large bason of water, called Booth-scale-tarn; three fourths of which is surrounded either by an exceedingly steep heath, or by entire rocks, and the fourth, being the side right above the valley, gives an outlet to the water. A road leads from the low grounds to this lake, and from the outlet winds above half round it, gradually ascending to some rocks where are slate-quarries, on account of which it was first made; near these quarries the road is a considerable height above the lake, and the perpendicular height of the hill above it cannot be less than four hundred yards; on the other side of this height the descent is at an angle of perhaps fifty degrees, but on this at a much greater. On a wet and windy day, in Autumn, I once took a ride with two companions to this lake: the wind blew directly over the height which I mentioned, not striking upon us except in uncertain puffs, on account of the intervention of the hill; that is, the wind, inpinging on the inclined plane of the other side of the hill, was compelled, towards the summit of it, in an oblique direction, its powers continually increasing, and itself being more and more condensed by the addition of fresh air pressing on its course in a similar diverted manner. This current at the summit met with the regular wind, and after striking violently on the mass of air moving in higher regions, was, by means of a combination of the weight and motion of that air, at last repelled into the tranquil and stagnant air beneath, where there was not a resistance from motion, and thus occasioned the wind of which I am speaking. It was this wind which amused me very much at that time: I was looking at the lake beneath, and saw it grow black near the centre; the spot where this first appeared changed directly into a livid appearance, by being contrasted with the rest of the water, through which from this spot, as a fixed point, rolled concentric circles of waves towards the circumference in a tumultuous manner, whilst the centre itself remained quite smooth and undisturbed. The wind which produced this agitation immediately after ascended the sides of the bason, and affected us with very great force; I could also observe the heath on the other sides of the pool shook by the same, and in the same main direction from a centre very forcibly. Such was the effects that I observed: I am told, however, that others have known a wind of the same kind, in dry weather, snatch the water out of the pool, and scatter it as spray through the whole of this imprisoned space." "..."
evidence:-	old map:- Otley 1818
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. OT02NY33.jpg Tarn SW of Mosdale.  item:-  JandMN : 48.1 Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-	descriptive text:- Otley 1823 (5th edn 1834)
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.   goto source Page 38:-  "Bowscale Tarn, which empties itself into the Caldew, is seated in a basin singularly scooped out in the side of a hill. ..."
evidence:-	old map:- Garnett 1850s-60s H placename:-  Bowscale Tarn
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. GAR2NY33.jpg "Bowscale Tarn" outline with shore form lines, lake or tarn  item:-  JandMN : 82.1 Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-	old text:- Martineau 1855 item:-  stars at noon; fish, Scales Tarn; mathematics
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.   goto source Page 101:-  "The other mountain-lake, lying north-east of this, and called Bowscale Tarn, is also reputed to reflect the stars at noonday, but under so many conditions, that it will be a wonder if any body ever has the luck to see them. It is in this tarn that, in the belief of the"   goto source Page 102:-  "country people, there are two fish which cannot die; - the same fish that used to wait on the pleasure of the good Lord Clifford when, in his shepherd days, he learned mathematics from the stars upon the mountain. ..."
evidence:-	old map:- Postlethwaite 1877 (3rd edn 1913)  placename:-  Bowscale Tarn
source data:-	Map, uncoloured engraving, Map of the Lake District Mining Field, Westmorland, Cumberland, Lancashire, scale about 5 miles to 1 inch, by John Postlethwaite, published by W H Moss and Sons, 13 Lowther Street, Whitehaven, Cumberland, 1877 edn 1913. PST2NY33.jpg "Bowscale Tarn" lake  item:-  JandMN : 162.2 Image © see bottom of page
	Click to enlarge BWR04.jpg (taken 3.8.2011)   Click to enlarge BVC97.jpg (taken 3.8.2011)   Click to enlarge BVC99.jpg (taken 3.8.2011)
hearsay:-	Hearsay has it that you can see the stars in a clear sky at midday looking into Bowscale Tarn, surrounded by cliffs.
	Marcel Minnaert says that being able to see stars in daytime from the bottom of a well shaft was described as far back as the time of Aristotle. But shading the eyes in this way, using a giant lens hood, does not alter the contrast between sky and stars, does not make them any more visible. The blue sky is still brighter than the stars and hides them. The daylight star sighting is a myth.
	He says that the sighting in a deep lake is equaly impossible. Stars and sky are darkenned equally in the reflection, the contrast is not improved, the stars cannot appear. Neither sighting has been reliably reported in modern times.
	BUT
	There is a possible mechanism where reflection can improve the contrast between star and sky. If the sky is very clear the blue sky light is produced by scattering, and there is no white light from water vapour. When the sun is low the blue light from above is polarised at right angles to the sun's direction. Looking into the lake's reflecting surface at right angles to the sun's direction could, at the right vertical angle make the reflection behave as a polarising filter darkening the blue light, but not the star light. The effect could be tested from the bottom of a well with polarising sunglasses (turned sideways). I have neither a deep well, nor clear blue skies, to try the idea.
	I still don't believe you can see the stars by day.
	Minnaert, Marcel & Seymour, Len (trans, ed): 1993 &1974 (original): Light and Colour in the Outdoors: Springer Verlag (New York, United States):: ISBN 0 387 97935 2; page 126 Smith, J: 1955 :: Journal of the Optical Society of America: vol.45: pp.482-
hearsay:-	Sir Walter Scott, in the Bridal of Triermain:-
	"Never sunbeam could discern The surface of that sable tarn, In whose black mirror you may spy The stars, while noon-tide lights the sky."
hearsay:-	There are said to be two immortal fish living in the tarn.

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