Windermere

Directories

Windermere derives its name from that largest of the English Lakes which was anciently called Wynandermere, together with its islands, tarns, fisheries, inns, and regattas, and exquisite scenery, which latter must be seen to be duly appreciated. This interesting parish is about 10 miles in length and 4 in breadth, and is bounded on the west and south by Lancashire, on the north by Grasmere parish, and on the east by Kendal parish. It has no village of its own name, but contains part of Ambleside, and three other townships, of which the following is an enumeration, with the returns of the number of inhabitants in 1801, 1811, and 1821, and the estimated annual value of the lands and buildings, in 1815:

BOWNESS, the capital of this parish, is a small but neat market town, in Undermilbeck township, charmingly situated near the center of the eastern shore of Windermere Lake in a small bay, 8 ½ miles WNW. of Kendal, 6 miles S. by E. of Ambleside, and 5 miles E. by S. of Hawkshead. It is the chief port on the lake, and has a few fishing vessels, a number of pleasure boats, and a trade in charcoal and slate. From its admirable situation it is much frequented by tourists, and has excellent accommodations for them in two good inns, the White Lion and the Crown, as well as in lodgings. A small market, principally for flesh, is held every Wednesday, and a fair was formerly held on the 18^th of October, but is now obsolete. The PARISH CHURCH, dedicated to St. Martin, is an antique edifice with a square tower, four bells, and a large and curiously painted east window, the coloured glass of which was brought from Furness Abbey. All the pews are free except four belonging to the principal owners of the parish. Amongst the mural tablets are several handsome ones of modern date, especially that in memory of the late learned Bishop of Landaff, who was interred here in 1816, aged 79. In the midst of all his fame to which his talents raised him, Bishop Watson never forgot his humble origin; and his contempt for human distinctions is sufficiently indicated by his choice of this humble resting place, and the inscription which merely records his name, age, and death. For the services he rendered to the cause of science and of truth, and for the example he set as an independent bishop and an honest man, his memory will be ever revered. The Church was formerly only a Chapel of Ease under Kendal church, "and in token of subjection, the rector pays to this day an annual pension of 13s. 4d. to the vicar of Kendal." The rectory, valued in the King’s books at £24 6s. 8d., was certified at 78l. viz. "parsonage house and land, 30l.; compositions, tithes of wool and lamb, and other small tithes, 44l ; and surplice fees, 4l." deducting for the receiver of the crown rents £1 13s. 4d., and for the vicar of Kendal 13s. 4d. The advowson continued in the crown till the 7^th of Elizabeth, when it was granted to William Herbert and John Jenkins, to hold in free soccage as of the manor of East Greenwich. After several conveyances, it was purchased by Sir William Fleming, Bart., who bequeathed it to his four daughters, so that Lady le Fleming and three others nominate in turns to the rectory, which is now enjoyed by the Rev. Sir Richard Fleming, Bart., for whom the Rev. John Fleming, M.A. officiates. The rector has a "prescription of so much a boat, in lieu of all the tithe fish caught in the lake," which is divided into twelve fisheries. The parsonage is occupied by Edward Swinburn, gentleman, and has about forty acres of glebe, reaching from the house to the water side. There are a number of neat and picturesque villas in the parish as will be seen in the subjoined Directory. Bowness FREE SCHOOL, for the boys of Undermilbeck and Applethwaite townships, is endowed with about 50l. a year, arising from land purchased with voluntary contributions. The school was built by subscription, about 1637, and is governed by four trustees and ten feoffees. The ancient Shrove tide custom of paying cock pennies and fighting cocks is still continued at this seminary, not much to its credit, but perhaps the brutal sport is kept up as the only license the master has for receiving the expected annual largesses.

APPLETHWAITE township comprises all the lake, and a great part of the parish lying north of Bowness, and east of Troutbeck. It contains two bobbin mills, with Orrest-Head, Elleray, Rayrigg, Birthwaite, The Wood, Calgarth Park, Belle Isle, and several other pleasant villas, and the districts called DROOMER, ORREST, EANING, and the Common. The houses are all scattered, and have a picturesque appearance. The manor is of the Richmond fee, and the Earl of Lonsdale is its lord. CALGARTH, anciently called Calf-garth, was for many generations the principal seat of the ancient family of Philipson. The late worthy Dr. Watson, Bishop of Landaff, in 1789 commenced building his beautiful seat called Calgarth Park, which is now occupied by his relict and daughter, and is well shaded with wood, partly planted by the bishop’s own hand.

BELLMOND-GROUND, a hamlet 2 miles SE. of Bowness.

CLEARBARROW, a hamlet in Undermilbeck, 1 ½ mile e. by S. of Bowness.

DROOMER, a district in Applethwaite, 1 ¼ mile NE. of Bowness.

LINDETH, a hamlet in Undermilbeck, 1 ½ mile SSE. of Bowness.

LOW-WOOD INN, in Ambleside township, 4 ½ miles N. by W. of Bowness, delightfully situated on a small bay, from which the head of Windermere opens out magnificently, with Brathay Park, and the valley of Great Langdale beyond, and a fine assemblage of mountains in the back ground. Many visitors make this excellent inn their quarters for some time. Petty Sessions are held here on the first Tuesday in every month.

MATSON- GRAND, a hamlet in Undermilbeck, 1 m. W. of Bowness.

ORREST, a district in Applethwaite, 1 ½ mile NNE. Of Bowness.

TROUTBECK township and chapelry, occupies a deep and picturesque vale, watered by a rivulet, from which it has its name, and which rises at the foot of High-Street mountain, and flows southward to Windermere. The village, or rather string of hamlets, bears the names of Town-End, Town-Head, High-Green, Cragg, and High-Fold, and is distant from 3 to 4 miles N. by E. of Bowness, and SE. of Ambleside. The CHAPEL stands below the village, near the rivulet. It was consecrated by the name of Jesus Chapel in 1562, for the use of the inhabitants of Troutbeck and Applethwaite, and was thoroughly repaired in 1828. The curacy is in the gift of the Rector of Windermere, and incumbency of the Rev. Wm. Sewell, of Ambleside, for whom the Rev. Jonathan Sewell officiates. The 1747, 1756, and 1773 it received certain sums of Queen Anne’s Bounty amounting to £600, which, with £200 given the latter year by the Countess Dowager Gower, was laid out in the purchase of two estates in Yorkshire, one in Kent, and the other at Marthwaite-Foot, near Sedbergh. About 1826 it was augmented with £400 of Queen Anne’s Bounty, and it has various donations amounting to 75l., vested in the Ambleside turnpike. The School, adjoining the chapel, taught by the sub-curate, was built in 1639, and has a small endowment. Troutbeck Park, which has been long disparked, is an estate of 2,000 acres, in which Mr. David Huddlestone, raises large quantities of fine blue slate. The township is divided into three divisions, called Hundreds, each of which has 600 cattle gates, of two acres each, on the extensive common, and had a common bull, constable, and bridge, from which it was wittily said "Troutbeck has three hundred bulls, three hundred constables, and three hundred bridges." It has now only one constable. From the elevated parts of the road near Troutbeck bridge, splendid views of the lake are obtained, and of the following mountains, viz. Coniston-Old-Man, Tilberthwaite Fell, Wrynose, Great Cove, Scawfell Pikes, Bow Fell, Great Gavel, Langdale Pikes, Loughrigg Fell, and Fairfield. Hugh Hird, the Troutbeck Giant, was, according to the fabulous tales of tradition, a man of wonderful strength and appetite, who, at the building of Kentmere Hall, lifted a beam, which ten men tried in vain to move, and when sent by Lord Dacre with a message to the king, he astonished the royal household by eating up a whole sheep to his dinner, having previously ordered it to be cooked for him, under the name of "the sunny-side of a wether." Spying-How, and Woundale Raise, are supposed to be British Sepulchers, but the heap of stones at the former has been removed.

UNDERMILBECK township comprises the town of Bowness, and the hamlets of Undermilbeck Stocks, Lindeth, Bellmond-Ground, Cleabarrow, and Matson-Grand, with many dispersed seats and farmhouses. The manor being of the Richmond Fee, like the rest of the parish, is held under the Earl of Lonsdale. Storrs Hall stands on a promontory above the lake, and was built by the late Sir John Legard, Bart., but has been greatly improved by its present owner, John Bolton, Esq. The Common was enclosed in 1813. Winster chapelry is united with this township.

WATERHEAD, in Ambleside township.