button to main menu  Old Cumbria Gazetteer
viewpoint, Castle Head
site name:-   Castle Head
locality:-   Keswick
civil parish:-   Keswick (formerly Cumberland)
county:-   Cumbria
locality type:-   viewpoint
coordinates:-   NY26972267
1Km square:-   NY2622
10Km square:-   NY22

photograph
 Click to enlarge
BPQ13.jpg (taken 24.8.2008)  
photograph
BPQ14.jpg  Topograph at the viewpoint.
(taken 24.8.2008)  
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.
image G8051122, button  goto source
Gentleman's Magazine 1805 p.1122  "... we climbed Castlehead, a pretty tufted hill about half a mile distant from Cockshut. This is a most commanding eminence. Had Mr. Grey, seated on its summit, consented for once to loosen the bandage from his eyes, and contemplate magnificence without terror, we could but faintly conceive the glowing touches of his animated pencil. Directly beneath us lay the town of Keswick, in as much obscurity as we could wish."
evidence:-   outline view:- Otley 1823 (8th edn 1849) 
source data:-   Print, engraving, outline view of mountains, Skiddaw and Saddleback ... as seen on entering Keswick from the South, drawn by Mr Binns, Halifax, engraved by Mr Jewitt, Headington, Oxfordshire, published by Jonathan Otley, Keswick, Cumberland et al, 1849.
image  click to enlarge
O80E16.jpg
Opposite p.46 of A Descriptive Guide of the English Lakes, by Jonathan Otley, 8th edition, 1849. 
printed at bottom:-  "SKIDDAW, AND SADDLEBACK FORMERLY BLENCATHERA: - / AS SEEN ON ENTERING KESWICK FROM THE SOUTH. / WITH ANCIENT NAMES."
printed at top:-  "The Dod / Hullock / Long Side / Carlside / Carsleddam (line 2) / Broad End, near the highest point / Skiddaw Man / Little Man / Howgill Tongue (line 2) / Jenkin Hill / Lonscale Fell / Latrigg / High Row Fell / Priest Man / Linthwaite Pike, Saddleback / Knot Aller / Scales Fell"
Looking N; 90 degree view, NW to NE. 
item:-  Armitt Library : A1180.17
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   descriptive text:- Otley 1823 (5th edn 1834) 
placename:-  Castlehead
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 OT01P118, button  goto source
Page 118:-  "For an introduction to the beauties of Keswick vale, a good station will be found on Castlehead, which is a wooded rock rising, in the centre of the Derwentwater estate, to the height of 280 feet above the lake. From the Borrowdale road, at one third of a mile from the inn, a path turns off by which the hill is ascended: and from its summit the lake of Derwent is finely displayed, with its numerous bays and islands. Lord's Island, near the shore, was once the residence of the family"
image OT01P119, button  goto source
Page 119:-  "of Derwentwater; the smaller island of Rampsholm lies beyond it; St. Herbert's Isle nearer the middle of the lake; and to the right Vicar's Isle, on which General Peachy has a house. The circumjacent mountains of Borrowdale and Newlands make a fine panorama. At the head of Borrowdale appears Great End Crag, beyond it a part of Scawfell with the highest of the Pikes. Looking through the vale of Newlands, Red Pike, distinguished by its colour, rises over Buttermere. To the eastward, Wanthwaite Crags, and Great Dod, form the end of the mountain range extending from Helvellyn. To the north Skiddaw rises finely, and Saddleback may be seen over the trees. Crosthwaite Church is a good object in the vale, and over the rising ground beyond Bassenthwaite Lake, the mountain Crif Fell in Scotland shews his head. This may be thought too elevated a station for the eye of a painter; but as a general view of the lake, the town, and the valley, it is excellent. Some of the lower stations formerly recommended are rendered less inviting by the too great profusion of wood upon the shores of the lake, and upon its islands; but this rock will always remain sufficiently prominent for a prospect; and its substance offers a study for the geologist."
evidence:-   outline view:- Otley 1823 (5th edn 1834) 
source data:-   Print, woodcut outline view, Skiddaw and Saddleback, by Jonathan Otley, Keswick, Cumberland now Cumbria, 1830.
image  click to enlarge
OT2E08.jpg
Printed on p.49 of A Concise Description of the English Lakes, by Jonathan Otley, 5th edition, 1834. 
printed at top:-  "SKIDDAW AND SADDLEBACK (FORMERLY BLENCATHERA); / As seen on entering Keswick from the South: / With ancient names."
printed at bottom:-  "The Dod / Hullock / Long Side / Carlside / Carsleddam / Broad End, near the highest point / Skiddaw Man / Little Man / Howgill Tongue / Jenkin Hill / Lonscale Fell / Latrigg / High Row Fell / Priest Man / Linthwaite Pike, Saddleback / Knot Aller / Scales Fell"
item:-  JandMN : 48.9
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   outline view:- Otley 1823 (4th edn 1830) 
source data:-   Print, engraving, Outline View of Skiddaw, and Saddleback, as seen on approaching Keswick from the South, published by Jonathan Otley, Keswick, Cumberland et al, 1830.
image  click to enlarge
O75E01.jpg
p.47 in A Concise Description of the English Lakes, by Jonathan Otley, 4th edition, 1830. 
printed at top:-  "Outline View of Skiddaw, and Saddleback (formerly Blencathera) As seen on approaching Keswick from the South: With names prior to the inclosure of the Commons in 1810."
printed at bottom:-  "The Dod / Ullock / Long Side / Carleside / Carsleddam / Broad End / Skiddaw Man / Little Man / Jenkin Hill / Lonscale Fell / Latrigg / High Row Fell / Little Fell / Priest Man / Linthwaite Pike / Knot Aller / Threlkeld Hall Fell"
item:-  Armitt Library : A1175.2
Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-   old print:- Westall 1830s
placename:-  Castlet
source data:-   Print, aquatint panorama, Keswick Lake, from Castlet, Cumberland, drawn and engraved by William Westall, published by Ackermann and Co, 96 Strand, London, 1830s.
image  click to enlarge
WTL314.jpg
"Falcon Crag. Barrow House, Mr. Pocklington. Lowdore Waterfall Mountains in Borrowdale. Shepherd's Crag. Castle Crag. Grange. Maiden moor. Rampsholm Id. Lord's Island Brandelow St. Herbert's Isle Catbells Great Robinson Friar's Crag Vale of Newlands Red Pike Rollingend Vicar or Derwent Island Cawsey Pike 2040ft. Barrow Swinside Grisedale Pike 2680ft. Istmus Whinlatter Portinscale Village Thornthwaite Greta River Withorp brows Bassenthwaite Lake Skiddaw Dod / Drawn & Engraved by W. Westall A.R.A. / Keswick Lake, / from Castlet. / Published by Ackermann and Co, 96 Strand."
item:-  Armitt Library : A6658.14
Image © see bottom of page
button to lakes menu  Lakes Guides menu.