53 



THIRLMERE AND ITS ASSOCIATIONS. 



By \V . WILSON. 

 (Read before the Keswick Society.) 



The immediate neighbourhood of Thirlmere is not very rich in 

 tradition ; yet there are a few places around it which possess some 

 degree of interest. In addition to this, the scheme of making an 

 embankment across the foot of the lake, and impounding its waters 

 to form a huge reservoir for the purpose of supplying the populous 

 city of Manchester with good water, has of late years attracted 

 considerable attention. I shall venture to put before you a descrip- 

 tion of the lake as we have seen it to-day, also a few particulars I 

 have noted in regard to the water scheme. I shall also relate 

 some o/ the traditions and legends of the neighbourhood as I have 

 heard them from the dalesfolk on various occasions, and during a 

 time when I was one amongst the rest of them. 



The lake, though best known as Thirlmere, is also called Leathes 

 Water and sometimes Wythburn Water. Its ancient name was 

 Brackmere or Bracken Water. The length of the lake is three 

 miles, and its greatest breadth a little over a quarter of a mile. It 

 is five hundred and thirty-three feet above the level of the sea ; its 

 greatest depth is eighteen fathoms, or one hundred and eight feet. 

 The lake in shape resembles a sand-glass, being very narrow near 

 the middle, and is there crossed by a bridge. Alongside the 

 bridge is a ford by which conveyances of all kinds have to pass on 

 their way to and from Armboth. The bridge, which is used by 

 foot passengers only, is curiously constructed. In place of arches, 



