Old Cumbria Gazetteer - Wasdale Head, Nether Wasdale

Wasdale Head, Nether Wasdale

Wasdale Head

Row

locality:-

Wasdale

civil parish:-

Nether Wasdale (formerly Cumberland)

county:-

Cumbria

locality type:-

locality

locality type:-

buildings

coordinates:-

NY18690880 (etc)

1Km square:-

NY1808

10Km square:-

NY10

BQO28.jpg (taken 12.5.2009)
photograph

BMB51.jpg (taken 11.5.2006)

evidence:-

old map:- Saxton 1579
placename:- Wasdale Chapel

source data:-

Map, hand coloured engraving, Westmorlandiae et Cumberlandiae Comitatus ie Westmorland and Cumberland, scale about 5 miles to 1 inch, by Christopher Saxton, London, engraved by Augustinus Ryther, 1576, published 1579-1645.

Sax9NY11.jpg
Building, symbol for a hamlet, which may or may not have a nucleus. "Wasdale chap:"
item:- private collection : 2
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old map:- Mercator 1595 (edn?)
placename:- Wasdale Chapelry

source data:-

Map, hand coloured engraving, Northumbria, Cumberlandia, et Dunelmensis Episcopatus, ie Northumberland, Cumberland and Durham etc, scale about 6.5 miles to 1 inch, by Gerard Mercator, Duisberg, Germany, about 1595.

MER8CumE.jpg
"Wasdale chap."
circle
item:- JandMN : 169
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

perhaps old map:- Keer 1605
placename:- Wasdale Chapel

source data:-

Map, hand coloured engraving, Westmorland and Cumberland, scale about 16 miles to 1 inch, probably by Pieter van den Keere, or Peter Keer, about 1605 edition perhaps 1676.

click to enlarge
KER8.jpg
"Wasdale chap"
dot, circle and tower; village
item:- Dove Cottage : 2007.38.110
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old map:- Jenner 1643
placename:- Wasdale Chapel

source data:-

Tables of distances with a maps, Westmerland, scale about 16 miles to 1 inch, and Cumberland, scale about 21 miles to 1 inch, published by Thomas Jenner, London, 1643; published 1643-80.

JEN4Sq.jpg
"Wasdale chap"
circle

evidence:-

old map:- Seller 1694 (Cmd)
placename:- Wasdale Chapel

source data:-

Map, uncoloured engraving, Cumberland, scale about 12 miles to 1 inch, by John Seller, 1694.

click to enlarge
SEL9.jpg
"Wasdale Chap."
circle, italic lowercase text; settlement or house
item:- Dove Cottage : 2007.38.89
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old map:- Badeslade 1742
placename:- Warsdale Chapel

source data:-

Map, uncoloured engraving, A Map of Cumberland North from London, scale about 11 miles to 1 inch, with descriptive text, by Thomas Badeslade, London, engraved and published by William Henry Toms, Union Court, Holborn, London, 1742.

click to enlarge
BD10.jpg
"Warsdale C."
circle, italic lowercase text; village, hamlet or locality, at the head of Wast Water
item:- JandMN : 115
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old map:- Simpson 1746 map (Wmd)
placename:- Warsdale

source data:-

Map, uncoloured engraving, Westmorland, scale about 8 miles to 1 inch, printed by R Walker, Fleet Lane, London, 1746.

SMP2NYA.jpg
"Warsdale"
Building.
item:- Dove Cottage : 2007.38.59
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old map:- Donald 1774 (Cmd)
placename:- Wastdale Head
placename:- Row

source data:-

Map, hand coloured engraving, 3x2 sheets, The County of Cumberland, scale about 1 inch to 1 mile, by Thomas Donald, engraved and published by Joseph Hodskinson, 29 Arundel Street, Strand, London, 1774.

D4NY10NE.jpg
"Wastdale Head"
blocks, and usually a church, labelled in upright lowercase; a village "Row"
block or blocks, labelled in lowercase; a hamlet or just a house
item:- Carlisle Library : Map 2
Image © Carlisle Library

evidence:-

old text:- Clarke 1787
placename:- Wasdalehead
item:- Herdwick sheep; sheep; storm; snow

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.

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Page 98:- "... There is a kind of sheep in these mountains called Herdwicks, which when fed to the highest growth, seldom exceed nine or ten pounds a quarter; they, contrary to all other sheep I have met with, are seen before a storm, especially of snow, to ascend against the coming blast, and take the stormy side of the mountain, which, fortunately for themselves, saves them from being over-blown. This valuable instinct was first discovered by the people of Wasdalehead, a small village, whose limits join those of Borrowdale. They, to keep this breed as much as possible in their own village, bound themselves in a bond, that no one of them should sell above five ewe (or female) lambs in one year; means, however, were found to smuggle more, so that all the shepherds now have either the whole or half breed of them; especially where the mountains are very high, as in Borrowdale, Newlands, and Skiddow, where they have not hay for them in winter. These sheep lye upon the very tops of the mountains in that season as well as in summer; and, as I said before, keep to the stormy side, where the wind blows the snow off the surface of the ground."
"If a calm snow fall, the shepherds take a harrow, and drag it themselves over the tallest heath, or ling; the snow then falls to the bottom, and the sheep feed upon the tops of it, and the moss which grows upon the stones. They are so remarkably wild and stupid in their temper, that in forcing them by dogs to washing, shearing, &c. they have laid down and died without much fatigue."
"Whence this breed first came I cannot learn; the inhabitants of Nether Wasdale say they were taken from on board a stranded ship, however, till within these few years, their number was very small: they grow very little wool; eight or nine of them jointly not producing more than a stone, yet their wool is pretty good."

evidence:-

old map:- Cooke 1802
placename:- Wastedale Head

source data:-

Map, The Lakes, Westmorland and Cumberland, scale about 8.5 miles to 1 inch, engravedby Neele and Son, published by Sherwood, Jones and Co, Paternoster Road, London, 1824.

click to enlarge
GRA1Lk.jpg
"Wastedale Head"
blocks, italic lowercase text, village, hamlet, locality
item:- Hampshire Museums : FA2000.62.5
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old map:- Laurie and Whittle 1806
placename:- Wastdale Head

source data:-

Road map, Completion of the Roads to the Lakes, scale about 10 miles to 1 inch, by Nathaniel Coltman? 1806, published by Robert H Laurie, 53 Fleet Street, London, 1834.

click to enlarge
Lw18.jpg
"Wastdale Head 279¾"
village or other place; distance from London
item:- private collection : 18.18
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old text:- Green 1810
placename:- Wastdale Head

source data:-

Set of prints, soft ground etchings, Sixty Studies from Nature, by William Green, Ambleside, Westmorland, drawn 1808-10, published 1810.

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page 81:- "..."
"At Wastdale Head are six dwellings: In this dale the wood is scanty, but as it thrives well, it is a pity the shepherds do not plant more; for, by so doing, they would make this sequestered region a pastoral Paradise: From the highest house in the valley it is scarcely two miles to the head of Wast Water."
"..."

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page 86:- "..."
"Speaking of Wastdale Head, it may be necessary to observe that the worthy inhabitants of that at once hospitable and inhospitable region, occasionally accommodate the weary traveller with lodging, and with food and raiment too, from their kine and fleecy stores; for which, however, (with the Swiss minister on the like occasion) they will accept a gratuity; and, who would not offer it with thanks for such hospitality, particularly when conferred with a politeness that would little be expected by a southern Englishman."

evidence:-

old print:- Wilkinson 1810 (plate 42)
item:- walker

source data:-

Print, uncoloured soft ground etching, View on the Banks of Wast Water, Cumberland, by Joseph Wilkinson, engraved by William Frederick Wells, published by R Ackermann, Repository of Arts, 101 Strand, London, 1810.

click to enlarge
WKN142.jpg
Perhaps Sca Fell behind.
Plate 42 in Select Views in Cumberland, Westmoreland, and Lancashire.
printed at bottom left, right, centre:- "The Revd. Jos. Wilkenson delt. / W. F. Wells sculpt. / View on the Banks of Wast-water. / Published April. 1. 1810. by R. Ackermann. 101. Strand. London."
item:- Fell and Rock Climbing Club : MN4.42
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old print with text:- Farington 1816
placename:- Wasdale Village

source data:-

Print, uncoloured engraving and descriptive text, Wastdale Village, Nether Wasdale, Cumberland, drawn by Joseph Farington, engraved by J Landseer, published by T Cadell and W Davies, Strand, London, 1815.

click to enlarge
FA0418.jpg
printed, bottom left, right, centre "Drawn by J. Farington R.A. / Engraved by J. Landseer A.R.A. / Wastdale Village. / London Published Septr. 15, 1815, by T. Cadell &W. Davies, Strand."
Descriptive text:- "WASTDALE VILLAGE,"
"IS situated among the western mountains of Cumberland, about two miles north from Eskdale; and has in its front the Lake of Wast-Water. From the difficulty of access to these interesting objects, except on the side of Egremont, this Village and Lake are seldom visited by strangers, but the traveller will be well rewarded on approaching the secluded and truly alpine valley in which the village is situated. Here every thing is rural, and seen in the true style of pastoral beauty and simplicity. Excepting the opening towards the Lake the valley is closely surrounded by mountains. ..."
item:- Armitt Library : A6666.18
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old map:- Otley 1818
placename:- Wasdale Head

source data:-

Map, uncoloured engraving, The District of the Lakes, Cumberland, Westmorland, and Lancashire, scale about 4 miles to 1 inch, by Jonathan Otley, 1818, engraved by J and G Menzies, Edinburgh, Scotland, published by Jonathan Otley, Keswick, Cumberland, et al, 1833.

OT02NY10.jpg
item:- JandMN : 48.1
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old map:- Hall 1820 (Cmd)
placename:- Wasdale Head

source data:-

Map, hand coloured engraving, Cumberland, scale about 21 miles to 1 inch, engraved by Sidney Hall, published by S Leigh, 18 Strand, London, 1820-31.

click to enlarge
HA14.jpg
"Wasdale Hd."
circle, italic lowercase text; settlement
item:- JandMN : 91
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

descriptive text:- Otley 1823 (5th edn 1834)
item:- stone wall; population, Wasdale Head; development; rusticity; poverty; geology

source data:-

Guide book, A Concise Description of the English Lakes, the mountains in their vicinity, and the roads by which they may be visited, with remarks on the mineralogy and geology of the district, by Jonathan Otley, published by the author, Keswick, Cumberland now Cumbria, by J Richardson, London, and by Arthur Foster, Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria, 1823; published 1823-49, latterly as the Descriptive Guide to the English Lakes.

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Page 30:- "Wasdale Head consists of about half a dozen dwellings sheltered by trees, and a small Chapel, in the midst of an area of arable land, encircled by the loftiest mountains. A public house here is much wanted by travellers; on which account the hospitality of the inhabitants is not unfrequently drawn upon by strangers."
"..."

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Page 130:- "Wasdale Head comprises a level area of 400 acres of land, divided by stone walls into small irregular fields, which have been cleared with great industry and labour; as appears from the enormous heaps of stones, piled up from the surplus after completing the inclosures. Here six or seven families have their Chapel, of a size proportionate to the number of inhabitants, and in a style according with the situation; and what Mr. Gray formerly said of Grasmere, may with equal propriety be applied to this vale: 'Not a single red tile, no gentleman's flaring house, or garden walls, break in upon the repose of this little unsuspected paradise; but all is peace, rusticity, and happy poverty, in its neatest, most becoming attire.'"
"..."

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Page 149:- "A variety of granite with reddish felspar, and which from a deficiency of mica, has sometimes been"

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Page 151:- "called sienite, ... may be seen shooting up in places, almost as far as Bootle, and also at Wasdale Head. ... It contains veins of red hematite and micaceous iron ore. ..."

evidence:-

descriptive text:- Ford 1839 (3rd edn 1843)
placename:- Wastdale Head

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.

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Page 71:- "..."
"... the deep, confined, and fruitful valley of Wastdale Head, with its chapel and half-dozen houses scattered upon a plain of meadow and corn-ground, divided into chequers by stone walls. Beyond, within a bed of steep rocky mountains of pure, unmixed, impenetrable sterility, is the long, narrow, stern, and desolate lake of Wast Water, to the head of which from these houses it is two miles. Refreshment may be had at any of these very respectable statesmen, and the tourist will not offend them by offer-"

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Page 72:- "[offer]ing a sufficient remuneration for their civility and trouble. Near their dwelling is the humble Chapel of Ease, past which a mountain track leads under Scafell by Burnmoor Tarn into Eskdale."

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Page 171:- "... country is more distinguished by sublimity."
"Wastdale Head contains only a few scattered houses; and its small chapel has only eight pews, and is without a burial-ground."

evidence:-

old map:- Ford 1839 map
placename:- Wastdale Head

source data:-

Map, uncoloured engraving, Map of the Lake District of Cumberland, Westmoreland and Lancashire, scale about 3.5 miles to 1 inch, published by Charles Thurnam, Carlisle, and by R Groombridge, 5 Paternoster Row, London, 3rd edn 1843.

FD02NY11.jpg
"Wastdale Head"
item:- JandMN : 100.1
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old map:- Garnett 1850s-60s H
placename:- Wasdale Head

source data:-

Map of the English Lakes, in Cumberland, Westmorland and Lancashire, scale about 3.5 miles to 1 inch, published by John Garnett, Windermere, Westmorland, 1850s-60s.

GAR2NY10.jpg
"Wasdale Hd."
cross, a church
item:- JandMN : 82.1
Image © see bottom of page

Martineau Directory 1855

evidence:-

old photograph:- Bell 1880s-1940s

source data:-

Photograph, black and white, Wasdale Head, Nether Wasdale, Cumberland, by Herbert Bell, photographer, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1890s.

click to enlarge
HB0773.jpg
internegative at lower left:- "H. Bell"
stamped at reverse:- "HERBERT BELL / Photographer / AMBLESIDE"
item:- Armitt Library : ALPS436
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old photograph:- Bell 1880s-1940s

source data:-

Photograph, black and white, Wasdale Head and Great Gable, Nether Wasdale, Cumberland, by Herbert Bell, photographer, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1890s.

click to enlarge
HB0774.jpg
stamped at reverse:- "HERBERT BELL / Photographer / AMBLESIDE"
item:- Armitt Library : ALPS437
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old photograph:- Bell 1880s-1940s

source data:-

Photograph, black and white, Wasdale Head, Kirk Fell behind, Nether Wasdale, Cumberland, by Herbert Bell, photographer, Ambleside, Westmorland, 1890s.

click to enlarge
HB0905.jpg
item:- Armitt Library : ALPS580
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old print:- Heaton Cooper 1905 (edn 1908)
placename:- Wastdalehead

source data:-

Print, colour halftone, Wastdalehead, Wastwater, Nether Wasdale, Cumberland, from a watercolour painting by Alfred Heaton Cooper, published by Adam and Charles Black, London, 2nd edn 1908.

click to enlarge
HC0136.jpg
Opposite p.94 of The English Lakes, painted by Alfred Heaton Cooper, described by William T Palmer.
printed at tissue opposite the print:- "WASTDALEHEAD, WASTWATER"
printed at signed lower right:- "A HEATON COOPER"
item:- JandMN : 468.36
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old map:- Post Office 1850s-1900s
placename:- Wasdale Head

source data:-

Post road maps, General Post Office Circulation Map for England and Wales, for the General Post Office, London, 1850s-1900s.

click to enlarge
POF7Cm.jpg
"Wasdale Head"
map date 1909

images courtesy of the British Postal Museum and Hampshire CC Museums

evidence:-

old print:- Barber and Atkinson 1927

source data:-

Print, halftone photograph, Looking into Mosedale, view of Wasdale Head, Nether Wasdale, Cumberland, published by James Atkinson, Caxton Printing Works, Ulverston, Lancashire, 1928.

click to enlarge
AK0408.jpg
Tipped in opposite p.38 of Lakeland Passes, by John B Barber and George Atkinson, 1927, 3rd edn 1928.
at inter negative:- "WASDALE HEAD. / Atkinsons Series 1266."
printed at bottom:- "Looking into Mosedale and showing (right) path to Black Sail. (To face page 38."
item:- JandMN : 350.9
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old photograph:- Bogg 1898
item:- climbing

source data:-

Photograph, halftone print, Wasdale Head and Great Gable, Nether Wasdale, Cumberland, by F Leach, published by Edmund Bogg, 3 Woodhouse Lane, and James Miles, Guildford Street, Leeds, Yorkshire, 1898.

click to enlarge
BGG157.jpg
Included on p.168 of Lakeland and Ribblesdale, by Edmund Bogg.
item:- JandMN : 231.57
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old print:- Sylvan 1847
placename:- Wastdale Head

source data:-

Print, engraving, Wastdale Head, Nether Wasdale, Cumberland, published by John Johnstone, Paternoster Row, London, et al, 1847.

click to enlarge
SYL156.jpg
On p.216 of Sylvan's Pictorial Guide to the English Lakes.
printed at bottom:- "WASTDALE HEAD."
item:- Armitt Library : A1201.56
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old print:- Rose 1832-35
placename:- Wastdale Head

source data:-

Print, engraving, Wastdale Head, Scawfell Pikes, Cumberland, by Thomas Allom, engraved by S Lacey, 1833.

click to enlarge
R258.jpg
"Wastdale Head, Scawfell Pikes, Cumberland"
item:- JandMN : 96.19
Image © see bottom of page

evidence:-

old print with text:- Farington 1816 (plate 25)
placename:- Wastdale Village

source data:-

Print, uncoloured engraving, Wastdale Village, drawn by Joseph Farington, engraved by J Landseer, published by T Cadell and W Davies, Strand, London, 1815.

click to enlarge
BNV37.jpg
Plate 25 in The Lakes of Lancashire, Westmorland and Cumberland ... with text by Thomas Hartwell Horne:- "WASTDALE VILLAGE, / IS situated among the western mountains of Cumberland, about two miles north from Eskdale; and has in its front the Lake of Wast-Water. From the difficulty of access to these interesting objects, except on the side of Egremont, this Village and Lake are seldom visited by strangers, but the traveller will be well rewarded on approaching the secluded and truly alpine valley in which the village is situated. Here every thing is rural, and seen in the true style of pastoral beauty and simplicity. ..."
item:- private collection : 76
Image © see bottom of page