Old Cumbria Gazetteer - viewpoint, Friar's Crag


	viewpoint, Friar's Crag
site name:-	Friar's Crag
civil parish:-	Keswick (formerly Cumberland)
county:-	Cumbria
locality type:-	viewpoint
coordinates:-	NY26372224 (?)
1Km square:-	NY2622
10Km square:-	NY22

evidence:-	descriptive text:- Otley 1823 (5th edn 1834) placename:- Friar Crag
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 119:- "A walk by the water side, to Friar Crag, at the distance of three quarters of a mile, is the favourite promenade of the inhabitants of the town, and affords much gratification to strangers. On leaving" goto source Page 120:- "the street the prospect is over Crow Park, which at the time of the attainder of the late Earl of Derwentwater, was a wood of stately oaks; but is now a fine, swelling, verdant field, on which races are annually held. Beyond this the view embraces the vale and mountains of Newlands, with High-stile presiding over Buttermere in the distance: in the retrospect, Skiddaw rises majestically over the town. On the left lies Cockshot, a hill thickly covered with oaks, and a tall silver fir upon its crest; ... Coming in sight of the lake, Vicar's Isle is most happily placed, the house just appearing among a variety of forest trees with which the island seems wholly covered; but on inspection, it is found to be beautifully laid out in pleasure grounds, and kept in the neatest order. Along the margin of the water numerous boats are moored, some belonging to private individuals, others kept for the accommodation of visitors; and at the termination of the walk on the low promontory of Friar Crag, the eye is saluted with a full prospect of the lake, bounded by the celebrated mountains of Borrowdale. To the left, near the shore, Stable Hills farm is reared upon the site where stood Lord Derwentwater's stables at the time his mansion was upon the adjacent island. The Parks, part cultivated, part wooded, occupy the rising ground, over which Wallow Crag shews" goto source Page 121:- "his massive rocky front; those, with the lands betwixt the town and lake, form the Derwentwater estate, for some time belonging to Greenwich Hospital, but lately purchased by John Marshall, Esq. Further on lies Barrow House, and above it the pastoral farm of Ashness; beyond the small island of Rampsholm pours the far-famed cataract of Lowdore; and Castle Crag appears between the more lofty mountains of Brund Fell and Gait Crag, like a centinel placed to guard the entrance of Borrowdale. To the right of St. Herbert's Isle, Catbells with front of brighter green, shelve into the lake; which is chiefly bordered on that side by the woods of the late Lord William Gordon. Looking through the lateral vale of Newlands, Red Pike appears beyond Buttermere; and more to the right Causey Pike and Grisedale Pike shew their aspiring peaks; the pass of Whinlatter, and the mountains of Thornthwaite lying still further to the right."

evidence:-	descriptive text:- Ford 1839 (3rd edn 1843) placename:- Friar Crag
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:- "..." "FRIAR CRAG" "Is the grand promenade, and the place to which all strangers are conducted on their arrival in Keswick. The latter part of this walk is through a grove of oaks and firs; and at the end there is a bench to rest on, whence may be seen nearly the whole circumference of the lake."

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