button to main menu   West's Guide to the Lakes, 1778/1821

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Page 185:-
and from the crown of it have a very singular romantic view of the river both ways, working its passage in a narrow deep channel of rocks, hanging over it in a variety of forms, and streaming a thousand rills into the flood. The rocks in the bottom are strangely excavated into deep holes of various shapes, which, when the river is low, remain full of water, and from their depth are black as ink. The bridge is one bold arch, supported by the opposite rocks, of unknown antiquity. A mantle of ivy vails (sic) its ancient front, and gives it a most venerable appearance. If you ride down the west side of the river from the bridge, as far as the forge, to see the water-fall of the whole river, let it be remembered, that the stream is much impaired in beauty since the forge was erected. And if, from the end of the uppermost house, you look up between the trees in the midst of the channel, you will see the whole body of the river issuing from a sable cavern, and tumbling over a rock, of height just sufficient to convert it into a froth as white as snow, and behind it the arch of the bridge is partly caught in a disposition that forms a very uncommon assemblage of picturesque beauties. This is seen in the highest perfection when then stream is full. Return to the bridge, and ride down the east side of the river to Levens-park.- In order to ride through the park, you must be favoured with a key from Levens-hall.
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gazetteer links
button -- Force Bridge
button -- (forge, Levens)
button -- Kent, River
button -- Levens Force
button -- station, Force Bridge

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