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Honister Pass, Buttermere
Honister Pass
Honister Hause
civil parish:-   Buttermere (formerly Cumberland)
civil parish:-   Borrowdale (formerly Cumberland)
county:-   Cumbria
locality type:-   pass
coordinates:-   NY22341369 (etc) 
1Km square:-   NY2213
10Km square:-   NY21
altitude:-   1178 feet
altitude:-   359m

photograph
BLY13.jpg  Down from just below the slate mine.
(taken 24.4.2006)  
photograph
BLY14.jpg  Down from below the slate mine.
(taken 24.4.2006)  
evidence:-   old print with text:- Farington 1816
source data:-   Print, uncoloured engraving and descriptive text, Honister Crag, Buttermere, Cumberland, drawn by Joseph Farington, engraved by Samuel Middiman, published by T Cadell and W Davies, Strand, London, 1815.
image  click to enlarge
FA0412.jpg
printed, bottom left, right, centre  "Drawn by J. Farington R.A. / Engraved by S. Middiman. / Honister Crag. / London Published Septr. 15, 1815, by T. Cadell &W. Davies, Strand."
Descriptive text:-  "..."
"On the eastern side of Honister Crag opens Gatesgarth-Dale, a scene truly tremendous and unique, winding "slowly and solemnly in one large segment, being at least half a quarter of a mile from side to side, which distance is pretty uniformly observed. The area of this valley is in general concave; the sides almost perpendicular, composed of a kind of broken craggy rock, the ruins of which every where strew the valley, and give it still more the idea of desolation. The small river also," (part of which is seen in our engraving) "is as wild as the valley itself through which it runs. It has no banks, but the fragments of rocks: no bed but a channel of rocky strata, among which the water forces its course. Its channel, as well as its bank, is formed of loose stones and fragments, which break, and divide the stream into a succession of impetuous eddies."[star]"
"[star] Gilpin's Tour to the Lakes, Vol.I. p.235."
item:-  Armitt Library : A6666.12
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   descriptive text:- Otley 1823 (5th edn 1834) 
item:-  Alchemilla alpina; flower
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 OT01P125, button  goto source
"... In passing the hause, (which rises 800 feet above the level of Derwent Lake,) Honister Crag in majestic grandeur is presented to the view;"
image OT01P126, button  goto source
Page 126:-  "between which and Yew Crag, the road now sharply descends. ... the edges of the road are beautifully tufted with Alchemilla alpina."
evidence:-   descriptive text:- Ford 1839 (3rd edn 1843) 
placename:-  Borrowdale Hause
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 FD01P088, button  goto source
Page 88:-  "... The top of this road, which is not passable for carriages, is eight hundred and eighty feet above the Derwent."
"On the right is Yew Crag Quarry: on the left that stupendous precipice, Honistar Crag, ..."
image FD01P169, button  goto source
Page 169:-  "... here [Seatoller] begins the ascent of Borrodale Hawse, and the road is so narrow, rugged, and steep, that cars pass with great difficulty. After reaching the summit, Honister Crag on the left, and Yew Crag on the right, come in view. Honister Crag is 1500 feet in height. Passing down a very rugged path, which crosses the water several times, it leads through a desolate valley to the hamlet of Gatesgarth, and the vale of Buttermere."
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 MNU1P133, button  goto source
Page 133:-  "... From Gatesgarth begins one of the wildest bits of road in the district. It climbs Buttermere Vale, by an ascent at first gradual, and latterly extremely steep, to the base of Honister Crag. It is a vast stony valley, where sheep and their folds, and a quarryman's hut here and there, are the only signs of civilization. There are no bridges over the stream (the infant Cocker), which must be crossed many times; and where there are no stepping-stones, the pedestrian must wade. Every body walks up the last reaches of the ascent,- so steep and stony is the narrow road, and so formidable its unfenced state. The dark, stupendous, almost perpendicular, Honister Crag frowns above; and as the traveller, already at a considerable height, looks up at the quarrymen in the slate quarries near the summit, it almost takes his breath away to see them hanging like summer spiders quivering H from the eaves of a house."
evidence:-   old text:- Martineau 1855
placename:-  Borrowdale Hawes
item:-  altitude, Honister Pass
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 MNU1P179, button  goto source
Page 179:-  "PASSES."
": : Height above the Level of the Sea"
"Borrowdale Hawes, to Buttermere : Cumberland : 1100"
evidence:-   old print:- Postlethwaite 1877
source data:-   Print, halftone photograph, Honister Quarry and Pass, Buttermere and Borrowdale, Cumberland, published by W H Moss and Sons, 13 Lowther Street, Whitehaven, Cumberland, 1877 edn 1913.
image  click to enlarge
PST333.jpg
Tipped in opposite p.132 of Mines and Mining in the English Lake District, by John Postlethwaite. 
printed, bottom  "HONISTER QUARRY AND PASS."
item:-  JandMN : 162.35
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Nelson 1853 (edn 1880s) 
source data:-   Print, chromolithograph, Honister Crag, Buttermere, Cumberland, published by Thomas Nelson and Sons, London, 1880s?
image  click to enlarge
NS0333.jpg
At the end of Views of the English Lakes, and Tourists Guide to the English Lakes. 
printed at bottom:-  "HONISTER CRAG"
item:-  JandMN : 474.34
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old photograph:- Bell 1880s-1940s
item:-  scree
source data:-   Photograph, black and white, Honister Pass and Honister Crag, Buttermere, Cumberland, by Herbert Bell, photographer, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1890s.
image  click to enlarge
HB0875.jpg
internegative at lower left:-  "H. Bell"
stamped at reverse:-  "HERBERT BELL / Photographer / AMBLESIDE"
item:-  Armitt Library : ALPS546
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old photograph:- Bell 1880s-1940s
source data:-   Photograph, black and white, Honister Pass, Buttermere, Cumberland, by Herbert Bell, photographer, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1890s.
image  click to enlarge
HB0610.jpg
stamped on reverse:-  "HERBERT BELL / Photographer / AMBLESIDE"
item:-  Armitt Library : ALPS270
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old photograph:- Bell 1880s-1940s
item:-  scree
source data:-   Photograph, black and white, Honister Pass, Buttermere, Cumberland, by Herbert Bell, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1890s.
image  click to enlarge
HB0464.jpg
internegative at lower left:-  "[H.] Bell"
item:-  Armitt Library : ALPS123
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Philip/Wilson 1890s
source data:-   Print, engraving, Honister Crag and Pass, published by George Philip and Son, London, Philip, Son and Nephew, Liverpool, Lancashire, and Titus Wilson, Kendal, Westmorland, about 1895.
image  click to enlarge
PW1E29.jpg
"HONISTER CRAG AND PASS."
item:-  JandMN : 58.30
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Bradley 1901
placename:-  Honister Pass
source data:-   Print, uncoloured lithograph, Honister Pass, Buttermere, Cumberland, by Joseph Pennell, published by Macmillan and Co, London, 1901.
image  click to enlarge
BRL127.jpg
On page 130 of Highways and Byways in the Lake District, by A G Bradley. 
printed at bottom:-  "Honister Pass."
item:-  JandMN : 464.27
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Heaton Cooper 1905 (edn 1908) 
placename:-  Honister Pass
source data:-   Print, colour halftone, Honister Pass and Buttermere, Buttermere, Cumberland, from a watercolour painting by Alfred Heaton Cooper, published by Adam and Charles Black, London, 2nd edn 1908.
image  click to enlarge
HC0144.jpg
Opposite p.128 of The English Lakes, painted by Alfred Heaton Cooper, described by William T Palmer. 
printed at tissue opposite the print:-  "HONISTER PASS AND BUTTERMERE"
item:-  JandMN : 468.44
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old postcard:- 
placename:-  Honister Pass
source data:-   Postcard, colour photogravure, Honister Pass and Crag, the New Road, by G P Abrahams, Keswick, Cumberland, purchased about 1954.
image  click to enlarge
PH0059.jpg
item:-  JandMN : 341
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Heywood 1906
placename:-  Honister Pass
source data:-   Print, halftone, Honister Pass, Buttermere, Cumberland, from a photograph by H Bell, Ambleside, published by Abel Heywood and Son, 56-58 Oldham Street, Manchester, and by Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent and Co, Ave Maria Lane, Paternoster Row, London, 1906.
image  click to enlarge
HW1E12.jpg
In a Guide to Keswick and its Vicinity in the Penny Guide Books series. 
printed at bottom:-  "Photo by / HONISTER PASS. / H. Bell, Ambleside."
item:-  JandMN : 348.12
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Pearson 1900s
placename:-  Honister Hause
source data:-   Print, halftone photograph, The Descent of Honister Hause, Buttermere, Cumberland, published by C Arthur Pearson, Henrietta Street, London, 1900s.
image  click to enlarge
PS1E65.jpg
On p.179 of Pearson's Gossipy Guide to the English Lakes and Neighbouring Districts. 
printed at bottom:-  "THE DESCENT OF HONISTER HAUSE. (p.178)."
item:-  Armitt Library : A1188.72
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Gresham Publishing 1900s
placename:-  Honister Pass
item:-  dawn
source data:-   Print, colour halftone, Honister Pass - Dawn, Cumberland, by Ernest W Haslehurst, published by The Gresham Publishing Co, 66 Chandos Street, London, 1900s?
image  click to enlarge
PR1568.jpg
Tipped in opposite p.44 of The English Lakes section of a volume of Our Beautiful Homeland. 
printed at bottom:-  "HONISTER PASS - DAWN"
printed at lower left:-  "E. W. HASLEHURST"
item:-  JandMN : 381.10
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Payn 1860s-70s
placename:-  Honister Pass
source data:-   Print, colour printed, Honister Pass, Buttermere, Cumberland, published by John Garnett, Windermere, Westmorland, and by Simpkin, Marshall and Co, London, 1860s-70s?
image  click to enlarge
PN0114.jpg
Tipped in opposite p.62 of England's Lakeland, a Tour Therein, by James Payn. 
printed at bottom:-  "HONISTER PASS."
item:-  Armitt Library : A1183.14
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- 
placename:-  Honister Pass
source data:-   Print, colour halftone, Honister Pass, Dawn, painted by E W Haslehust, published early 20th century.
image  click to enlarge
PR0404.jpg
painted at lower left:-  "E. W. HASLEHUST."
printed at bottom centre:-  "HONISTER PASS - DAWN / (See page 45)"
item:-  Dove Cottage : 2008.107.397
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- 
placename:-  Honister Pass
source data:-   Print, uncoloured engraving, Honister Crag and Pass, Cumberland, drawn by W H J Bool, engraved by Whymper, published 1920s-30s?
image  click to enlarge
PR0351.jpg
On page 232 of Picturesque Europe, The Lake Country. Thunder and lightning, and a shepherd sitting out the storm. 
printed at lower left, right:-  "WHJBool / WHYMPER Sc"
printed at bottom:-  "HONISTER CRAG AND PASS."
item:-  Dove Cottage : 2008.107.351
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- 
source data:-   Print, chromolithograph, Honister Crag, Cumberland, published by T Nelson and Sons, London, 1900s?
image  click to enlarge
PR0169.jpg
From a set of prints, The Scenery of the English Lakes 
printed at lower right:-  "T. NELSON &SONS"
printed at bottom left:-  "HONISTER CRAG"
item:-  Dove Cottage : 2008.107.169
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Bogg 1898
placename:-  Honister Pass
source data:-   Print, engraving, Honister Pass, Buttermere, Cumberland, by Owen Bowen, published by Edmund Bogg, 3 Woodhouse Lane, and James Miles, Guildford Street, Leeds, Yorkshire, 1898.
image  click to enlarge
BGG177.jpg
Included on p.199 of Lakeland and Ribblesdale, by Edmund Bogg. 
item:-  JandMN : 231.77
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Rose 1832-35
source data:-   Print, engraving, Honister Crag, Cumberland, by Thomas Allom, engraved by W Floyd, 1833.
image  click to enlarge
R214.jpg
"Honister Crag, Cumberland"
Historical scene of the battle of local farmers against the younger Groeme, scottish border raiders. 
item:-  JandMN : 96.9
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Farington 1816 (plate 27) 
source data:-   Print, uncoloured engraving, Honister Crag, drawn by Joseph Farington, engraved by Samuel Middiman, published by T Cadell and W Davies, Strand, London, 1815.
image  click to enlarge
PR0430.jpg
Plate 27 in The Lakes of Lancashire, Westmorland, and Cumberland. 
printed at bottom, left, right, centre:-  "Drawn by J. Farington R.A. / Engraved by S. Middiman. / Honister Crag. / London Published Septr. 15, 1815, by T. Cadell &W. Davies, Strand."
item:-  JandMN : 171
Image © see bottom of page

photograph
BZG45.jpg  Looking down to Gatesgarth.
(taken 6.9.2013)  
photograph
BJQ21.jpg  Looking up Honister Pass from the Buttermere side.
(taken 10.6.2005)  
photograph
BJZ24.jpg  Down from the slate mine.
(taken 7.11.2005)  
photograph
BUM87.jpg (taken 3.5.2011)  
photograph
 Click to enlarge
BUM89.jpg (taken 3.5.2011)  
hearsay:-  
 A border clan of reivers, the Graemes, stole sheep and cattle from Buttermere and were escaping through the pass. A band of local men attacked them, killing the chief's son. He is said to have been buried on Honister Crag, the grave marked by his bonnet, claymore and targe.
hearsay:-  
 Before 1935 the road over the pass was unsurfaced. Beatrix Potter thought
"... could be used as a cure for the colic ..."
personal
person:-   border reiver (?)
 : Graeme Clan
place:-   burial place
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