80 RIVERS. 



a waterspout burst in 1686, causing enormous devastation in 

 these villages. 



We now enter the third portion of Wharfedale, through a 

 most romantic woody glen, with fells towering above, and rocks 

 contracting below to form narrow channels, of which the ' Strid/ 

 immortalized by Wordsworth, is most remarkable, for the rapid 

 and powerful river. Past these obstructions the Wharfe emerges 

 into that sweet and picturesque combination of cliff, meadow, 

 forest, and monastic ruins, which has rendered Bolton Abbey 

 dear to the painter of nature, and which owes no small share 

 of its witchery to the graceful sweeps and ever-changing face 

 of this beautiful mountain-stream. Gladly might the princely 

 shepherd, the good Earl Clifford, pass happy years in this re- 

 treat, suggestive of better thoughts than 



.... low ambition and the pride of kings. 



Five miles below Bolton is Ilkley (the Olicana of Rome), under 

 the slope of Rumbalds, Romells or Rumbles Moor, or finally 

 Rumeley's Moor, as belonging to De Rumeley, the founder of 

 Skipton Castle; which gives forth the cold pure springs for 

 which Ilkley was long famous, before Ben Rhydding claimed 

 attention. The Roman roads through Olicana have not been 

 completely traced, but there is good ground to admit a connec- 

 tion by this means from Rigodunum (Ribchester) to Calcaria 

 (Tadcaster) and Eburacum (York). 



Ilkley still preserves on the south side of the river, near the 

 church, some remains of the Roman camp. This was probably 

 founded near to an earlier British town, mentioned by Ptolemy 

 under the name of Olecanon, in which we may detect the British 

 Llecan, rock ; and certainly no place in Yorkshire better de- 

 serves the title of rocky. For above the station is one of the 

 finest ' edges ' of millstone grit which can anywhere be seen, and 

 the ' Hanging Rocks ' the ' Cow and Calf which project over 

 Ben Rhydding, are scarcely to be surpassed in picturesque effect. 



