Old Cumbria Gazetteer

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	Nunnery Fall, Ainstable
	Nunnery Fall
site name:-	Croglin Water
site name:-	Nunnery Walks
locality:-	Nunnery
civil parish:-	Ainstable (formerly Cumberland)
county:-	Cumbria
locality type:-	waterfall
coordinates:-	NY531423 (approx)
1Km square:-	NY5342
10Km square:-	NY54
evidence:-	descriptive text:- West 1778 (11th edn 1821)
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 78, footnote:-  "There is a cascade at Nunnery, near Kirkoswald, in Cumberland, much in the same style as this [waterfall at Rydal]. The accompaniments are as beautiful, the bason larger, and the perpendicular fall 18 feet. But it is only one of a series of romantic scenes which abound at Nunnery, and are equal if not superior in their kind to any we have found in our tour: nor can we forbear to recommend this interesting spot to the notice of every traveller of taste: it is situated about ten miles from Penrith, on the right of the road to Carlisle."
evidence:-	old print with text:- Farington 1816
source data:-	Print, uncoloured engraving and descriptive text, Scene at Nunnery, Ainstable, Cumberland, drawn by Joseph Farington, engraved by Samuel Middiman and John Pye, published by T Cadell and W Davies, Strand, London, 1815.   click to enlarge FA0401.jpg printed, bottom left, right, centre  "Drawn by J. Farington R.A. / Engraved by S. Middiman and John Pye. / Scene at Nunnery. / London Published Septr. 15, 1815, by T. Cadell &W. Davies, Strand." Descriptive text:-  "SCENE AT NUNNERY." "... the walk extends to the deep, rocky ravine, through whose gloom the latter river pours its waters. The scene delineated in our engraving now bursts upon the eye of the astonished visitor. "The banks at once rise into lofty precipices, beetling over the narrow path, but finely softened down with shrubs and plants: the torrent, in the meantime, follows a rapid descent, and keeps up an uninterrupted roar. Further on, the mural rock rises on each side, the glen becomes narrower and more gloomy, and the sound of many waters increasing upon the ear, intimates the neighbourhood of a cataract: nor is the expectation disappointed, for two successive falls immediately appear. Of these the second is wonderfully impressive; the deep water, after its desperate leap, being nearly involved in midnight darkness by the mass of wood that overhangs its abyss. Approaching now more closely to each other, the rocks excite the struggling stream to ten-fold fury, which with difficulty pushes its waters through a horrible fissure, and forms a cascade," nearly twelve yards deep, being precipitated, in an unbroken sheet, into a circular bason about eighteen feet in depth, in the rock. The over-arching cliffs, and solemn shades, reverberate the roar in a manner truly tremendous.[star]" "[star] Warner's Tour through the Northern Counties, Vol.II. p.82." item:-  Armitt Library : A6666.1 Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-	descriptive text:- Ford 1839 (3rd edn 1843)  placename:-  Nunnery fall item:-  height, Nunnery Fall
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 179:-  "WATERFALLS." No. Name and Situation of Fall. Height. 12 Nunnery Fall, one mile from Kirkoswald 60 feet
evidence:-	old print:- Farington 1816
source data:-	Print, uncoloured engraving, View at Nunnery in Cumberland, painted by J Farington, engraved by W Birch, published by William Birch, Hampstead Heath, London, 1789.   click to enlarge PR0104.jpg printed at bottom:-  "VIEW at NUNNERY in CUMBERLAND, / Painted by J. Farington R A. & engraved by W. Birch, Enamel Painter. / Publish'd Octr. 1. 1789 by Wm. Birch, Hampstead Heath & sold by T. Thornton, Southampton Strt. Covt. Garden." item:-  Dove Cottage : 2008.107.104 Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-	old print with text:- Farington 1816
source data:-	Print, engraving, View at Nunnery, Ainstable, Cumberland now Cumbria, painted by J Farington, 1816, engraved by W Birch, mid 19th century.   click to enlarge BMZ24.jpg This is presumably a new engraving of the scene, plate 34, in The Lakes of Lancashire, Westmorland and Cumberland, by T H Horne, published London, 1816; with descriptive text:-  "Scene at Nunnery in Cumberland." "A FALL of sparkling water, sequestered among rocks and wood, has always had attractions sufficient to lead the curious traveller out of his road. But Mr. Farington seems to have discovered one in this private spot, not much known, yet deserving of the highest attention." "His easy pencil has remembered in the picture all that sweet repose, so engaging in these exhibitions of wild nature." item:-  Dove Cottage : Lowther.77 Image © see bottom of page

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