Descriptive Gazetteer Entry for GRASMERE

GRASMERE, a village, a vale, a lake, a township, and a parish in Kendal district, Westmoreland. The village stands, amid charming scenery, about ½ a mile from the head of the lake, 3½ miles NW of Ambleside, and 7½ NW by N of Windermere r. station; presents a pleasant appearance; and has a post office‡ under Windermere. An ornate cottage behind it, called Allan-Bank, was inhabited for some years by the poet Wordsworth; and another house at the hamlet of Town-End, about ½ a mile from it, was inhabited by him for eight years. The vale is part of the basin of the Rothay river; extends south-westward about 1½ mile, but is largely occupied by the lake; and is closely engirt with hills and mountains, but has openings through them in the course of the Rothay, and at the sides by depressions between their own heights. Several inns, a large hotel, and many lodging-houses are at different points within and near it, for the accommodation of tourists. The lake has an oval outline; is about 1¼ mile long, 1/3 of a mile wide, and 180 feet deep; has an elevation of 180 feet above the level of the sea; and is gemmed, at the centre, with a green swelling island of about 4 acres. The views of it, from almost all points, either on its margin, or on the overhanging heights, are beautiful; and they have been celebrated by Gray, De Quincey, Wordsworth, Mrs. Hemans, and other poets. Wordsworth, in particular, who spent the last thirty-seven years of his life at the neighbouring residence of Rydal-Mount, has embalmed in verse almost every spot on the lake or near it; and, when a dearly beloved brother had just left England after suffering much misfortune, that poet said—

There I sit at evening, when the steep
Of Silver How, and Grasmere's peaceful lake,
And one green island, gleam between the stems
Of the dark pines, -a visionary scene!
And while I gaze upon the spectacle
Of clouded splendour, on this dream-like sight
Of solemn loveliness, I think on thee,
My brother, and on all which thou hast lost

The township comprises 7, 615 acres. Real property, £3, 769. Pop. in 1851, 445; in 1861, 604. Houses, 115. The increase of pop. arose from the erection of Lake residences.—The parish contains also the township of Langdale, the t. of Rydal and Longhrigg, and part of the t. of Ambleside. Acres, 22, 100. Real property, with the rest of Ambleside, £15, 891; of which £70 are in quarries. Pop., 2, 347. Houses, 457. The property, in most parts, is subdivided. Rydal Hall is the seat of General Le Fleming. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Carlisle. Value, £199.* Patron, General Le Fleming. The church is ancient; consists of nave, with aisles, chancel, and S porch; and has a square embattled tower. The churchyard contains the graves of Wordsworth and Hartley Coleridge. The vicarage of Langdale and the p. curacy of Rydal are separate benefices. There are a national school, and charities £36.


(John Marius Wilson, Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870-72))

Linked entities:
Feature Description: "a village, a vale, a lake, a township, and a parish"   (ADL Feature Type: "populated places")
Administrative units: Grasmere CP/Ch/AP       Kendal RegD/PLU       Westmorland AncC
Place: Grasmere

Go to the linked place page for a location map, and for access to other historical writing about the place. Pages for linked administrative units may contain historical statistics and information on boundaries.