THE EXTINCT MAMMALS OF LAKELAND xliii 



lady, having been lost in the ardour of the chase, was after a 

 long search and heart-rending suspense, found lying on a bank, 

 slain by a wolf, which was in the act of tearing her to pieces. 

 The place is distinguished by a mound of earth, near the 

 village of Beckermet, on the banks of the Ehen. The name of 

 Woto Bank, or Wodow Bank, as the modern mansion erected 

 near the spot is called, is said to be derived by traditionary 

 etymology from the expression to which, in the first transports 

 of his grief, the distracted husband gave utterance, ' Woe to 

 this bank.' l The authority just cited has bequeathed to us his 

 opinion regarding the monumental figure of the Lady Lucy 

 preserved in St. Bees Abbey Church : ' On the breast of the 

 lady is an unshapely protuberance. This was originally the 

 roughly sculptured limb of a wolf, which even so lately as the 

 year 1806 might be distinctly ascertained. These figures were 

 formerly placed in a horizontal position, at the top of two 

 raised altar-tombs within the church. The tomb of the lady 

 was at the foot of her lord, and a wolf was represented as 

 standing over. The protuberance above mentioned on the 

 breast of the lady, the paw of the wolf, is all that now remains 

 of the animal. About a century since the figure of the wolf 

 wanted but one leg, as many of the inhabitants, whose immediate 

 ancestors remembered it nearly entire, can testify.' 2 Another 

 vague tradition was placed on record by the late Dr. Gibson, 

 who wrote in the following strain : * If it be about the end of 

 the week, you will probably fall in with my friend Dan Birkett, 

 " t 'heead captain of Seeathwaite Tarn-heead mines," who will 

 not require much pressing to take a glass of grog, and whose 

 varied conversation may amuse you, whilst your ham and eggs 

 are being cooked. Amongst other matters, he will tell you 

 that, in the Longhouse Close, on the side of Walna Scar, with 

 which you shall be made acquainted bye and bye, are to be 

 seen the remains of an ancient British town, consisting of the 

 remains of several stone-built huts, and a large enclosure, where 

 Dan says they secured their flocks from the wolves.' 3 West 



1 White's Lays and Legends of the English Lake Country, p. 230. 



2 lb. tit., p. 231. 



3 Havings and Rambling s round Coniston, p. 48. 



