Old Cumbria Gazetteer - viewpoint, Cockshot Wood


included in:-	Derwent Water
	viewpoint, Cockshot Wood
site name:-	Cockshot Wood
civil parish:-	Keswick (formerly Cumberland)
county:-	Cumbria
locality type:-	viewpoint
1Km square:-	NY2622
10Km square:-	NY22

evidence:-	descriptive text:- West 1778 (11th edn 1821) placename:- station, Derwent Water, West 1
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. goto source Page 87:- "STATION I. Cockshut-hill is remarkable for a general view. It is covered with a motley mixture of young wood; has an easy ascent to the top, and from it the lake appears in great beauty. On the floor of a" goto source Page 88:- "spacious amphitheatre of the most picturesque mountains imaginable, an elegant sheet of water is spread out before you, shining like a mirror, and transparent as crystal; variegated with islands, adorned with wood, or clothed with the sweetest verdure, that rise in the most pleasing forms above the watery plain. The effects all around are amazingly great; but no words can describe the surprising pleasure of this scene on a fine day, when the sun plays upon the bosom of the lake, and the surrounding mountains are illuminated by his refulgent rays, and their rocky broken summits invertedly reflected by the surface of the water." goto source Addendum; Mr Gray's Journal, 1769 Page 206:- "..." "Oct. 4. ... Cockshut-hill, ... to which I walked in the afternoon; ..." goto source Page 207:- "... There is an easy ascent to the top, and the view far preferable to that on Castle-hill (which you remember) because this is lower and nearer the lake; for I find all points that are much elevated, spoil the beauty of the valley, and make its parts, which are not large, look poor and diminutive [1]. While I was here, a little shower fell, red clouds came marching up the hills from the east, and part of a bright rainbow seemed to rise along the side of Castle-hill." "[1] The picturesque point is always thus low in all prospects: a truth which though the landscape-painter knows, he cannot always observe; since the patron who employs him to take a view of his place, usually carries him to some elevation for that purpose, in order, I suppose, that he may have more of him for his money. Yet when I say this I would not be thought to mean that a drawing should be made from the lowest point possible; as for instance in this very view, from the lake itself, for then a fore-ground would be wanting. On this account, when I sailed at Derwent-water, I did not receive so much pleasure from the superb amphitheatre of mountains round me, as when, like Mr. Gray, I traversed its margin; and therefore think he did not loose much by not taking boat."

evidence:-	old map:- Crosthwaite 1783-94 (Der) placename:- station, Derwent Water, West 2
source data:-	Map, uncoloured engraving, An Accurate Map of the Matchless Lake of Derwent, ie Derwent Water, scale about 3 inches to 1 mile, by Peter Crosthwaite, Keswick, Cumberland, 1783, version published 1800. CT2NY22Q.jpg "Cock-shot / 2d. Station" item:- Armitt Library : 1959.191.3 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. goto source Gentleman's Magazine 1805 p.1122 "..." "From the brow of Cockshut-hill we caught the grand outline of the vale, under the mellowing rays of a majestic sunset: behind us stretched the frightfully stupendous wall of Barrow and Wallow Crags; and from these was extended a chain of cliff bounding the vale of Watendlath: next rose the grandly-wooded rocks of the Lodore, forming a magnificent circus for its fall: still farther yawned the terrific jaws of Borradaile, closed on either side by the huge precipices of Grange Fell and Gate Crags. In the midst of this dreary chasm, an isolated spire of rock, invested on all sides with foliage of the liveliest verdure, stood like a tower. This is Castle Crags which the Antiquaries dignify with the honours of a Roman Fort. ..."

evidence:-	descriptive text:- Ford 1839 (3rd edn 1843) placename:- Cockshot
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. goto source Page 59:- "..." "COCKSHOT" "Presents a general view of the lake, and from its vicinity to the town, its ease of access, and its numerous charms, demands peculiar attention."

	indexing
person:-	author : West, Thomas
place:-	Derwent Water
date:-	1778
period:-	18th century, late
period:-	1780s
item:-	guide book; Guide to the Lakes

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