Lakes Map, Gilpin 1786 map

Gilpin 1786 map


	item:- Armitt Library : A918.8 image:- © see bottom of page	click to enlarge
	Sketch map, Windermere lake, Westmorland, by William Gilpin, 1772-74, published by T Cadell and W Davies, Strand, London, 1808. Vol.1 opposite p.142 in Observations on Several Parts of England, Particularly the Mountains and Lakes of Cumberland Westmoreland, Relative Chiefly to Picturesque Beauty. The list of plates in the preface of the book has:- 'VIII. This plan of Windermere is not geographically exact; but enough so to give the reader an idea of it's shape, and the situation of the several places mentioned on it's shores. Page 142.'
	Nearby text, vol.2 pp.142-146:- 'From Ambleside we set out for Bowness, to take a view of the lake. Part of the road we had traversed, the day before, from Kendal; and were a second time amused by the woody landscape it afforded: and it's sudden, interrupted openings to the lake, before the whole burst of that magnifient scene was presented.- From the higher grounds, above Bowness, we had an elevated view of it's whole extent. 'Windermere, or Winander-water, as it is sometimes called, extends from north to south, about twelve or fourteen miles. In breadth it rarely exceeds two; and is seldom narrower than one. The southern end winds a little towards the west. The noerthern and western coasts are wild, and mountainous - the easterm, and southern are more depressed; in some parts cultivated, in others woody. Opposite to Bowness, the lake is divided into two parts by a cluster of islands; one of which is larger than the rest. 'Bowness is the capital port-town on the lake; if we adopt a dignified style, which the grandeur of the scene suggests. It is the great mart for fish, and charcoal; both which commodities are largely imported here; and carried by land into the country. It's harbour is crouded with vessels of various kinds; some of which are used merely as pleasure-boats in navigating the lake.- In one of these we embarked, and standing out to sea; made for the island; which we were informed was a very intersting scene. 'We soon arrived at it; and landing at the south end, we ordered our boat to meet us at the north point; meaning to traverse it's little boundaries. 'A more sequestered spot cannot easily be conceived. Nothing can be more excluded from the noise, and interruption of life; or abound with a greater variety of those circumstances, which make retirement pleasing. 'The whole island contains about thirty acres. It's form is oblong; it's shores irregular; retiring into bays, and broken into creeks. The surface too is uneven; and a sort of little Appenine ridge runs through the middle of it; falling down in all shapes into the water.- Like it's mother island, the southern part wears a smoother aspect, then the northern, which is broken, and rocky. 'Formerly the whole island was one entire grove. At present it is rather bare of wood; though there are some large oaks upon it. 'One of it's greatest beauties arises from that irregular little Appenine, just mentioned, which extends from one end to the other. This circumstance hides it's insularity, by connecting it with the continent. In every part, except on the high grounds, you stand in an amphitheatre composed of the noblest objects; and the lake performing the office of a sunk fence, the grandeur of each part of the continent is called in, by turns, to aid the insignificance of the island. 'The oblong form also of the lake gives the island another great advantage. On each of it's sides the opposite shore of the continent is little more than half a mile distant: but at the northern and southern points there is a large sheet of water. The views therefore, as you walk round, are continually changing through all the varieties of distance; which are still farther improved by a little degree of obliquity, in the position of the island. 'He who should take upon him to improve a scene like this, would have only to conduct his walk and plantations, so as to take advantage of the grand parts of the continent around him - to hide what is offensive - and amidst a choice of graet and picturesque objects, to avoid shewing too much. As he would have, at all times, an exuberance of water, he should not be ostentatious in displaying it. It would be a relief to the eye sometimes to exclude it wholly; and to introduce a more sylvan scene, with distant mountains rising above it. A transient glance of the water, with some well-chosen accompaniments beyond it, would often also have a good effect; and sometimes a grand expansion of the whole.- Thus the objects around, though unmanagable in themselves, ight be brought under command by the assistance of an insular situation. 'With regard to the ornamenting of such a scene, an elegant neatness is all the improver should aim at. Amidst these grand objects of nature, it would be absurd to catch the eye with the affected decorations of art. The simple idea he should wish to preserve, is, what the place itself suggests, a sequestered retreat. The boundaries should in a great measure be thicket - on the eastern coast especially, which is opposed to the only cultivated part of the country; and if there be any thing in that part worth giving to the eye, it might be given through some unaffected opening. 'For thickets, the wild wood of the country would abundantly suffice. It grows luxuriantly, and would soon produce it's effect. 'The middle parts of the island, with a few clumps properly disposed, might be neat pasturage, with flocks, and herds; which would contrast agreeably with the rough scenery around. 'The house, at present, stands too formally in the middle of the island. It might stand better near the southern promontory. The air of this sweet retreat is said to be very pure.[star] told, spent six thousand pounds upon it; with which sum he contrved to do almost every thing, that one should wish had been left undone. It is now in other hands, which may probably restore it's beauty.' [footnote/star] 'Since this view of Windermere island was taken, it hath been under the hands of improvement. The proprietor, I have been told, spent six thousand pounds upon it; with which sum he contrved to do almost every thing, that one should wish had been left undone. It is now in other hands, which may probably restore it's beauty.'
		Gilpin 1786 map
	map feature:-	north point & up is W & rivers & lakes & settlements
	inscription:-	printed Windermere.
	wxh, page:-	14x22cm (roughly)