button to main menu  Old Cumbria Gazetteer
Wath Bridge, Thirlmere
Wath Bridge
site name:-   Thirlmere
civil parish:-   St John's Castlerigg and Wythburn (formerly Cumberland)
county:-   Cumbria
locality type:-   footbridge
locality type:-   bridge
coordinates:-   NY310171 (guesses) 
1Km square:-   NY3117
10Km square:-   NY31
evidence:-   old map:- OS County Series (Cmd 70 4) 
placename:-  Wath Bridge
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.
"Wath Bridge"
Drawn as a series of three bridges from shore to island to island to shore, on the 25 inch map. The track goes from Dalehead Hall to Armboth House. 
evidence:-   old map:- Donald 1774 (Cmd) 
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.
image
D4NY31NW.jpg
track across Thirlmere 
item:-  Carlisle Library : Map 2
Image © Carlisle Library
evidence:-   old map:- Clarke 1787 map (Ambleside to Keswick) 
source data:-   Map, A Map of the Roads Lakes etc between Keswick and Ambleside, scale about 2.5 ins to 1 mile, by James Clarke, engraved by S J Neele, 352 Strand, published by James Clarke, Penrith, Cumberland and in London etc, 1787.
image
CL9NY31D.jpg
Drawn in three sections. 
item:-  private collection : 10.9
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Smith 1795
source data:-   Print uncoloured engraving, with some aquatint, Wyburn Lake, at the Lower End, Thirlmere, Cumberland, drawn by John 'Warwick' Smith, engraved by F Merigot, published by R Blamire, Strand, London, 1791.
image  click to enlarge
PR1851.jpg
printed, bottom left, right, centre  "Drawn by John Smith. / Engrav'd by F. Merigot. / WYBURN LAKE, / at the Lower End. / Published as the Act directs, March, 1791, by Rd. Blamire, Strand, London."
item:-  Armitt Library : 2011.66
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old text:- Capper 1808
source data:-   Gazetteer, A Topographical Dictionary of the United Kingdom, compiled by Benjamin Pitts Capper, published by Richard Phillips, Bridge Street, Blackfriars, London, 1808; published 1808-29.
image CAP131, button  goto source
"LEATH WATER or WITHBURN, a fine lake in Cumberland, ... is almost intersected in the middle by 2 peninsulas which are joined by a neat bridge of timber. ..."
evidence:-   old print:- Green 1815
source data:-   Print, coloured aquatint, Leaths Water, St John's Castlerigg and Wythburn, Cumberland, by William Green, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1815.
image  click to enlarge
GN0531.jpg
The northern part of Thirlmere; Wath Bridge then Wythburn Water behind. 
Plate 33 in Lake Scenery. 
printed at upper right:-  "33"
printed at bottom:-  "LEATHS WATER. / Published at Ambleside, June 1, 1815, by Wm. Green."
item:-  Armitt Library : A6646.31
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print with text:- Farington 1816
source data:-   Print, uncoloured engraving and descriptive text, Thirlmere, St John's Castlerigg and Wythburn, Cumberland, drawn by Joseph Farington, engraved by F R Hay, published by T Cadell and W Davies, Strand, London, 1815.
image  click to enlarge
FA0413.jpg
printed, bottom left, right, centre  "Drawn by J. Farington R.A. / Engraved by F. R. Hay. / Thirlmere. / London Published Septr. 15, 1815, by T. Cadell &W. Davies, Strand."
Descriptive text:-  "... There is one peculiar feature belonging to Thirlmere, which distinguishes it from all the other Lakes of Cumberland. Near the middle, the shores of this Lake, on each side, nearly unite; and have been connected together by an Alpine bridge of three arches, which has been thrown over it for the convenience of the inhabitants. This bridge appears in the foreground of our engraving, and the view from it up the Lake is singularly romantic."
item:-  Armitt Library : A6666.13
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.
image OT01P016, button  goto source
Page 16:-  "... [Thirlmere] is divided into an upper and lower lake, between which a picturesque wooden bridge leads to Armboth House. ..."
evidence:-   descriptive text:- Ford 1839 (3rd edn 1843) 
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 FD01P047, button  goto source
Page 47:-  "..."
"[Leathes Water] ... is nearly equally divided by two promontories, connected by a series of wooden bridges and stone causeways at a place where it is fordable."
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 MNU1P069, button  goto source
Page 69:-  "... The track leads by the margin of the lake, and through a shady lane, and a farm yard, to the bridge by which the lake is to be crossed. The water is shallow there, between two promontories; so that piers are easily built, with little wooden bridges at intervals: and thus is solved what is to novices a great mystery;- how there can be a bridge over a lake. ..."
evidence:-   old photograph:- Bell 1880s-1940s
source data:-   Photograph, sepia, Wath Bridge, Thirlmere, St John's Castlerigg and Wythburn, Cumberland, by Herbert Bell, photographer, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1890s.
image  click to enlarge
HB0728.jpg
item:-  Armitt Library : ALPS392
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old photograph:- Bell 1880s-1940s
source data:-   Photograph, sepia, Wath Bridge and Helvellyn, Thirlmere, St John's Castlerigg and Wythburn, Cumberland, by Herbert Bell, photographer, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1890s.
image  click to enlarge
HB0729.jpg
item:-  Armitt Library : ALPS393
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old photograph:- Bell 1880s-1940s
source data:-   Photograph, sepia, Wath Bridge, Thirlmere, St John's Castlerigg and Wythburn, Cumberland, by Herbert Bell, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1890s?
image  click to enlarge
HB0291.jpg
item:-  Armitt Library : ALPS648
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old photograph:- Bell 1880s-1940s
source data:-   Photograph, sepia, Wath Bridge, Thirlmere, St John's Castlerigg and Wythburn, Cumberland, by Herbert Bell, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1890s?
image  click to enlarge
HB0357.jpg
item:-  Armitt Library : ALPS734
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old text:- Philip/Wilson 1890s
source data:-   Guide book, The English Lake District, published by George Philip and Son, 32 Fleet Street, London, Philip, Son and Nephew, Liverpool, Lancashire, and Titus Wilson, Kendal, Westmorland, now Cumbria, before 1895.
"... It [Thirlmere] was about ¼of a mile broad, but so narrowed at one point that it was crossed by three successive foot-bridges,- a conspicuous feature in all old views of the Lake. ..."
evidence:-   old print:- Heywood 1906
placename:-  Submerged Bridges, The
source data:-   Print, engraving, The Submerged Bridges, Wath Bridge, Thirlmere, St John's Castlerigg and Wythburn, Cumberland, engraved by ?Lancton, 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
HW1E11.jpg
In a Guide to Keswick and its Vicinity in the Penny Guide Books series.  "'The above is a view that will never be seen again by mortal eye. ... now submerged by the raising of the water in store for Manchester."
printed at bottom:-  "THE SUBMERGED BRIDGES, THIRLMERE."
printed at lower left:-  "[LANCTON Sc]"
item:-  JandMN : 348.11
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Harwood 1895
placename:-  Celtic Bridge, The
source data:-   Print, halftone photograph, View of Thirlmere, showing Ford and Celtic Bridge across Lake, Cumberland, by Meisenbach, published by Henry Blacklock and Co, Albert Square, Manchester, 1895.
image  click to enlarge
HRW303.jpg
Tipped in opposite p.38 of the History and Description of the Thirlmere Water Scheme, by Sir John James Harwood. 
printed at bottom:-  "VIEW OF THIRLMERE, SHOWING FORD AND CELTIC BRIDGE"
printed at lower left:-  "Meisenbach"
item:-  Armitt Library : A660.5
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old drawing:- 
source data:-   Drawing, Thirlmere, Cumberland, by John Harper, 1840.
image  click to enlarge
PR1383.jpg
View of Thirlmere with stone wall intersected by three small wooden bridges in the foreground. Hills and trees in the background. Executed in pencil with touches of white gouache on buff coloured paper. Preparatory sketch drawn on the spot by the artist. 
at bottom right:-  "Thirlmere. 8 Sep./40"
item:-  Tullie House Museum : 2009.89.26
Image © Tullie House Museum
evidence:-   old print:- Rose 1832-35
placename:-  Thirlmere Bridge
source data:-   Print, engraving, Thirlmere Bridge, Looking North, Cumberland, by Thomas Allom, engraved by W le Petit, 1833.
image  click to enlarge
R241.jpg
"Thirlmere Bridge, Looking North, Cumberland"
item:-  JandMN : 96.14
Image © see bottom of page
button to lakes menu  Lakes Guides menu.