Old Cumbria Gazetteer - Kirkstone Beck

Kirkstone Beck

locality:-

Kirkstone Pass

civil parish:-

Patterdale (formerly Westmorland)

county:-

Cumbria

locality type:-

river

1Km square:-

NY4009 (etc)

10Km square:-

NY40

CAS58.jpg (taken 21.5.2014)

evidence:-

old map:- Jefferys 1770 (Wmd)

source data:-

Map, 4 sheets, The County of Westmoreland, scale 1 inch to 1 mile, surveyed 1768, and engraved and published by Thomas Jefferys, London, 1770.

J5NY41SW.jpg
single or double wiggly line; river
item:- National Library of Scotland : EME.s.47
Image © National Library of Scotland

evidence:-

old text:- Clarke 1787
item:- fish, Kirkstone Beck; trout; kite

source data:-

Guide book, A Survey of the Lakes of Cumberland, Westmorland, and Lancashire, written and published by James Clarke, Penrith, Cumberland, and in London etc, 1787; published 1787-93.

goto source
Page 153:- "..."
"... a rivulet which runs rapidly down its uneven bed, foaming and bounding from place to place: This brook, being augmented by several little springs, forms a pretty large runner before it falls into Broadwater, called by some Brotherwater, ... The traveller when coming down Kirkstone will be surprised to find trout in the brook to the very top of it; and indeed I am astonished how the fishes can spring from a pool up a rock five feet high, into another bason above, and so on, from pool to pool; but that they do so is certain, always endeavouring to get as near the head of a stream as they can to lay their spawn; and in the fence months, (or spawning time,) I have seen them throw themselves up against the rock, tumble down again, try again, fall upon the dry ground, sometimes regain the water, and sometimes perish in the attempt. At that time of the year you likewise see more kites and other birds of prey, fly about these brooks than any other, as I suppose to seize the fish that have missed their leap and fallen on the banks of the stream, and unable to regain their element. - Oh, Nature! what a desire in thee to propagate thy species, even to hazarding of life! Trout and salmon only wish to lay their spawn as near the head of a stream as they possibly can. ..."

evidence:-

old map:- Cary 1789 (edn 1805)

source data:-

Map, uncoloured engraving, Westmoreland, scale about 2.5 miles to 1 inch, by John Cary, London, 1789; edition 1805.

evidence:-

old print:- Fielding and Walton 1821 (plate 48)
placename:- Kirkstone Spring

source data:-

Print, coloured aquatint, Kirkstone Spring, Kirkstone Beck? drawn by Theodore H A Fielding, published by R Ackermann, 101 Strand, London, 1821.

click to enlarge
FW0148.jpg
Tipped in opposite p.283 in A Picturesque Tour of the English Lakes.
item:- Dove Cottage : 1993.R566.48
Image © see bottom of page

places:-

NY39971191 bridge, Patterdale (2) (Patterdale)

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