COCKERMOUTH is an ancient borough and neat market-town of 4500 inhabitants, seated at the junction of the Cocker with the Derwent, from which circumstance it derives its name. It sent two representatives to Parliament as early as the twenty-third year of Edward I., and, by the Reform Act, it has still the privilege of returning two members. The honour and castle of Cockermouth belong to General Wyndham. The ruins of this ancient fortress, formerly a place of great strength, are seated on a bold eminence which rises from the east bank of the Cocker. It was built soon after the Norman Conquest by Waldieve, first lord of Allerdale, of whose successors it was for many centuries the baronial seat. In 1648, it was garrisond for King Charles, but being afterwards taken by the Parliamentarians, was dismantled by them, and has ever since lain in ruins, except a small part which the late Earl of Egremont sometimes inhabited. The Gateway Tower, embellished with the arms of the Umfravilles, Multons, Lucies, Percies, and Nevilles, is a striking object. On the north side of the town is a tumulus, called Toots Hill; one mile to the west are the remains of a rampart and ditch of an encampment, 750 feet in circuit, called Fitt's Wood. On the summit of a hill at Pap Castle, a village one mile and a-half south-west of Cockermouth, are the traces of a Roman castrum. A great number of antique remains have been discovered at this place, and in the neighbourhood. The castle was subsequently the residence of the above-mentioned Waldieve, by whom it was demolished, and the materials used in the construction of Cockermouth Castle. Tickell, the poet, Addison's friend, was born at Bridekirk, two miles distant.* The seats in the neighbourhood are-Dovenby Hall, (F. L. B. Dykes, Esq.,) three miles north-west. Tallentire Hall, (William Browne, Esq.,) three and a-half miles north. Isel Hall, (William Wybergh, Esq.,) three and a-half miles northeast. Woodhall, (J. S. Fisher, Esq.) two and a-half miles north. The best inns are, the Globe, and the Sun. The distances to the principal towns in the neighbourhood are -Maryport, seven miles, Workington, eight miles, Keswick, by Whinlatter, twelve miles, by Bassenthwaite Water, thirteen and a-half miles, Whitehaven, fourteen miles, Wigton, sixteen miles, Carlisle, twenty-seven miles. * Cockermouth is the birth-place of the poet Wordsworth, who was born on the 7th April, 1770. 5 Observe the peculiar shape of Blencathara, from which the other name of that mountain is taken. Road to Caldbeck. 11 Greystock Castle, two miles on the left. The park is very extensive. The mansion is a fine building, containing some good pictures. Greystock Church, built in the reign of Edward II., contains some ancient monuments. Many relics of antiquity abound in the neighbourhood. 13 Road through Dacre to Pooley Bridge, at the foot of Ulleswater, four miles. Dacre Castle, formerly the residence of the famous border family of Dacre, has been converted into a farmhouse. The name is derived from the exploits of one of their ancestors, at the siege of Acrethe St. Jean d'Acre of modern times-in the Holy Land under Richard Coeur de Lion. Another branch of this clan was settled at Gilsland in Cumberland. There are many ballads and traditions which still -" proclaim Douglas or Dacre's conquering name." One mile and a half to the right, Dalemain, E. W. Hasell, Esq. Half a mile beyond Stainton, the road from Penrith to Ulles16 water deviates to the right. Hence there is a charming view of the Vale of Penrith, and the mountains circling Ulleswater, which lake is hidden by Dunmallet, a wooded hill at its foot. Yanwath Hall, is seen on the banks of the Eamont, one mile and a half from Penrith on the right. ON RIGHT FROM PENRITH. STONE.-AMBLESIDE, 24 Miles. Instead of the first five miles and three quarters of the road given below, the Tourist may cross Eamont Bridge on the road to Kendal, turning to the right a little beyond, to Yanwath vill. (two miles,) leaving King Arthur's Round Table on the left. Here is Yanwath Hall, an ancient castellated building, a good specimen of the old Westmorland Hall. Sockbridge vill. is a mile further. The hall at this place is a ruin deserving the attention of the artist. Barton church is seen on the right a mile beyond. Pooley Bridge is reached five miles and three quarters from Penrith. It has been recommended, that, in order to see the lower part of Ulles Water to advantage, the Westmorland margin should be traversed for three or four miles; a boat might be in readiness to convey the stranger across the lake to the road usually taken. From PENRITH. From Penrith. ON LEFT FROM PENRITH. Road to Keswick. Waterfoot, Col. Salmond. 14 Skirsgill, Mrs Parkin. 234 Pursue the Keswick road 2 To reach Pooley Bridge a 183 quarter of a mile distant at the foot of the lake, a turn must be made to the left. There are two inns at this place, where post-horses and boats can be obtained. There is a good view of the lake from Dunmallet, a hill near the village. Road to New Church, so 17 called, in distinction from Old Church, which stood on the margin of the lake. The former was consecrated by Bishop Oglethorpe in 1558, while on his way to crown Queen Elizabeth; an office he had soon to regret having undertaken, when all the other prelates] had refused, for he as well as the other Roman Catholic Bishops were shortly afterwards deprived. This fine park, belonging to Henry Howard, Esq. of Corby, contains upwards of 1000 acres. It is well stocked with deer. At Sandwyke, on the opposite margin, a considerable stream called How Grain enters the lake. cr. the Dacre. ULLES WATER. Rampsbeck Lodge Watermillock. 9 In Gowbarrow Park, says Wordsworth, the lover of Nature might linger for hours. Here is a powerful brook, which dashes among rocks through a deep glen hung on every side with a rich and happy intermixture of native wood; here are beds of luxuriant fern, aged hawthorns, and hollies decked with honey suckles; and fallow deer glanc11 ing and bounding over the lawns and through the thicklets. A mile above the bridge the stream is precipitated down a fall of eighty feet. Two wooden bridges are thrown across the brook, one above the other, below the fall. The banks are beautifully wooded, and the scenery around of inconceivable magnificence. Birk Fell rises rapidly from the opposite margin. ON RIGHT FROM PENRITH. From Ambles. From Penrith. ON LEFT FROM PENRITH. 12 cr. Glenridding Beck. 14 cr. Grisedale Beck. Patterdale vill. 8 cr. Deepdale Beck. 15 A promontory from Birk Fell terminates the second reach. The first island, House Holm, Glenridding House, Rev. H. Askew. This stream takes its rise in Keppel Cove and Red Tarns,! which lie near the summit of Helvellyn. That mountain may be ascended through this glen.) Place Fell, with a patch of cultivated ground on which are two farm houses lying at its base, has a striking effect on the opposite shore. A mountain road, practicable only for horsemen and pedestrians, conducts through Grisedale into Grasmere. There is a good inn at this place, which, if the Tourist have time, should be made his head quarters for some days, as there is much to see in the neighbourhood. Road into Martindale across Deepdale Beck. 161 The road is now through flat meadows on the banks of the stream, to another branch, which flows from Brother's Water. Hartsope Village. Hayes Water, a tarn well known to 18 the angler, lies between High Street and Grey Crag, two miles above Hartsope. Angle Tarn in the same neighbourhood is noted for the superior flavour of its trout. Enter the common and climb the pass of Kirkstone. The summit of the pass is 3 fenced in by the Red Screes on the right, and Woundale Head on the left. The large block of stone whose Church-like frame Gives to the savage Pass its namestands on the right of the road. The Romans are supposed to have marched through this depression on their way northwards from the station at Ambleside. Near the summit, al road diverges on the left into the valley of Troutbeck. At the point of deviation, a small inn has lately been erected. In the descent, which is excessively steep, the views of Windermere and the vale of Ambleside are very fine. Wansfell Pike is on the left, Loughrigg Fell on the right of the vale. |