Bassenthwaite Lake.

BASSENTHWAITE LAKE .

THIS lake was anciently called Broadwater , but Robinson , in his book on Cumberland and Westmorland , says it received the name of Bassenthwaite from the number of Basts ( the local name for perch ) which are in it . Although the poet Gray visited it , in 1769 , he saw it indifferently , in the beginning of October , travelling in a post-chaise . He went along the east side to Ousebriclgerunning directly along the foot of Skiddaw . " Opposite to

Withope-, brows , clothed to the top with wood , a very beautiful view opens down the lake , which is narrower and longer than that of Keswick , less broken into bays , and without islands . At the foot of it , a few paces from the brink , gently sloping upward , stands Armathwaite , in a thick grove of Scotch firs , commanding a noble view directly up the lake . At a small distance behind the house is a large extent of wood , and still behind this a ridge of cultivated

hills , on which , according to the Keswick proverb , the sun always shines . " So says Gray to his friend , Dr . Wharton . He dined at Ousebridge ( at a publichouse which has since disappeared ) , and he returned b y the turnpike road to Keswick , which had just then been finished from Cockermouth . In 1785 , Mr . Peter Crosthwaite published his maps of eight of the principal lakes , and Bassenthwaite formed an interesting one of the series , with vignettes

of Mirehouse , of " Armathwaite Hall , the seat of Sir F . F . Vane , LL . D ., Ousebridge Inn , Powter How , and Castle How , with old trenches upon it dug out of the solid rook . " The best way to see the lake is to drive round it from Keswick , a distance of eighteen miles . It is better seen by going round the western side , leaving the picturesquely situated village of Braithwaite on the left , with Grisedale Pike and Causey Pike in the background . On the ri ght you pass Powter How wood , at the foot of which is a comfortable roadside inn for the accommodation of anglers and tourists . On a knoll just beyond the

mn may be seen , on looking at the Barft mountain , a jutting rock commonly called " the Monk , " the contour of which reminds you of the picture of St . Paul preaching at Athens . It is quite as good in its way as the Lord Chan- ' cellor of Glencoe . Passing by Woodencl Farm , you reach Beck-W ythope , where the ancient road winds up the mountain to Lowes-water , rendered famous to Cumbrians as the road Dr . Gibson says Bobby Banks travelled in his "bodderment . " Wythope Woods are the property of Sir Ralh H . Vane

p , Bart ., and also Wythope Hall , anciently the seat of Sir Richard Fletcher , who was created a knight and baronet by James I . for his hospitalit y to Mary Queen of Scots at the old hall , Cockermouth , on hev road from Workington to Carlisle . He was ancestor of the present owner , Sir R . H . Vane , Bart . At Peel Wyke there is a good old-fashioned inn , where every accommodation may be had , and many parties now take advantage of the railway from Keswick and from

Whitehaven for pleasure trips and fishing on the lake in summer , and for skating in winter . Hard by is Castle How before mentioned . Here are three tiers of trenches thrown up facing to Wythope , and on the side facing to Keswick , they have been dug out of the solid rock . There can be no doubt that these works are British , thrown up as a last defence against the Roman invaders . An action had taken place near the old schoolhouse near to W ythope Mill twoed

. A Roman -ged sword in a bronze scabbard was found buried , with other weapons of a Roman foot soldier , three feet below the surface . The scabbard was ornamented with enamel of different colours , and had no doubt been the accoutrement of a Roman officer . It was formerl y in Orosthwaite ' s Museum , Keswick , but on the dispersion of that collection in 1870 it found its way into the British Museum , with many other valuable antiquities . A Roman