A Tour of the English Lakes
U5. The lower reach of Ullswater
Gray's Journal Entry: ‘This plate gives a view of the lowest reach of Ullswater. It is of a very different character from the other two divisions. Those appear to the eye completely environed by impending mountains, whereas this, if Dunmallet were removed, would lie entirely open to the adjacent country. Dunmallet is a hill of a regular conic form, of no great height, and somewhat formally planted with wood. On its top are the vestiges of a Roman fortress, well adapted, like that on Castle-crag, at the head of Derwentwater, to command all the avenues of the country. The view is taken near the farmhouse called Bowerbank overlooking the village of Pooley which stands on the outlet of the lake. The river here takes the name of Emont and after a course of eight or ten miles falls into the Eden. The wood rising on the right of the foreground is part of Dunmallet. In the first distance near the centre appears Watermellock, the habitation of Mr Robinson, charmingly situated upon an eminence. The hills on the left are Place-fell, etc. In the most remote distance rises Helvellyn which disputes pre-eminence in respect of altitude with Skiddaw and Cross-fell.’
Farington's Art
Watercolour: The lower reach of Ullswater from Bowerbank Farm above Pooley. Engraving: Unlike the watercolour, this engraving includes, on the right towards the bottom of the field, three horses, a woman and a child.
Pixel View
Send us your photo's! We will publish the best photographs of this view. Email your pictures to: pictures@penpaintpixel.org.uk
Location Hint: The viewpoint for the watercolour is carefully specified as ‘taken near the farmhouse called Bowerbank’ which is above the village of Pooley. The expansion of the village and the growth of trees have now obscured the lake from the farm but what is meant by ‘near’? Try to get up higher and see if you get a better view.
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