was bishop of London, were natives of High Knipe, in this parish. There are at Bampton two respectable inns. Shap Abbey. Shap Abbey, which is situate on the banks of the river Lowther, is about three miles from Bampton, and one mile from the town of Shap. But of this once magnificent building, little more than the tower now remains. The road from Bampton to the Abbey is pleasant: in some places it is elevated, and in others, by the side of the river, over which there is a bridge to the Abbey. This bridge, with the tower, the river, and the neighbouring trees, make an excellent composition. The tower exhibits elegant specimens of the pointed Gothic arch. The Abbey is less secluded than those of Furness, Calder, and Lanercost; for on the sides of the hills above those venerable ruins grow innumerable forest trees, which have been carefully preserved by the owners. At Shap Abbey there is some good wood, swelling from the verge of the river high upon its banks, which in places unites happily with the steeple; but all the neighbouring woods are now too poor to give an idea of the eligibility of the situation when a place of monastic retirement. says, "the face of the country is totally altered since those ancient times; for all was then forest and wood, even so late down as the foundation of the Abbey." Perhaps the woods Burn were levelled with the buildings, for the erection of farm-houses, a practice not uncommon amongst tasteless proprietors. The Abbey was purchased from the Wharton family by the father of the late Lord Lonsdale. Mr. West says, "Haws Water may be conveniently visited from Penrith, returning to it by the ruins of Shap (or Heppe) Abbey, to Shap. The remains of this ancient structure are inconsiderable yet picturesque. A square tower with piked windows is the chief part of the ruins, and does honour to the reign of King John, when it was built for canons of the Præmonstratensian order, that had been first placed at Preston Patrick, near Kendal, by Thomas, son of Gospatrick. This abbey was dedicated by the first founder to St. Mary Magdalene, and he endowed it with a large portion of his lands, in Preston, near Kendal. This son translated it to Magdalene Vale, near Shap, and further endowed it with the lands of Karl, or Karlwath. Robert de Viteripont (Vipont) first Lord of Westmorland, confirmed the precedent grants, and added to that of Matilda, his mother, and Ive his brother, the tithes of all his mills and of the game killed in all his lands in Westmorland. This grant is dated on Saturday, April 24, in the 13th of King John." It has been already abserved, that travellers from the south may see Ulls Water from Ambleside in quicker succession of fine scenes, than from any other posting town; and such as take this ride, are conducted over Kirkstone by a singular descent to Brother Water; and thence through a much admired valley to the inn, from which, by an excursion in several successive changes from land to water, they will be introduced to the favourite haunts of beauty. Should the water be too ruffled for a boat to glide on its surface, the walks described from the inn to Place Fell Quarry, and from the quarry to Silvery Bay, when added to the other labours of the day, will probably be as amply gratifying as any so limited an excursion in the north of England. Such of the happy opulent whose homes are not only at home, but any where, and every where, may do well to go to Powley Bridge, to Haws Water, and even to Penrith, from which place, on their return to Ambleside, they may see before them all the delightful scenery lying between the foot and the head of the lake; and the vales of Patterdale and Hartshope, in features greatly differing from those presented in their progress from Ambleside to Ulls Water. The road from Ambleside to Keswick is rich in scenes of grandeur and beauty, and they are generally of such a character as to produce, in susceptíble minds, the most exquisite sensations. The celebrity of this line of tour induces many travellers to place themselves on the outside of the coach, which leaves Ambleside at eight o'clock in the morning, and arrives at Keswick about eleven, and such as can find room in front of that conveyance, will there have the advantage of viewing, without interruption, the best combinations, which are almost invariably those in prospect; but those who pass from Keswick to Ambleside will do well to mount the hinder part of the coach, where a solitary person, sitting with his back to the vehicle, may enjoy, in contemplative silence, all the beauties of this lovely ride. Ambleside, it has been before observed, is beautiful from numberless points. The prospects from many of the houses are excellent. The back of Mr. Newton's house, at Water Head, opened finely to the north, till obscured by a plantation; and some houses built by Mr. Partridge are very rich in views. Covey Cottage, the residence of that gentleman, is a charming place. Gale House, inhabited by Mr. Edmunds, has a terrace attached to it, with a walk to the body of the town, which abounds in the picturesque; but the trees bordering the terrace begin to hide the beauties of the vale, and will, in a few years, if not repressed, entirely shut them out. The houses belonging to Mr. North, Mr. Scambler, Mrs. Green, and Mr. Harrison, are all on situations happily elevated above the surface of the highly cultivated valley, which stretches from the village to the foot of Loughrigg Fell, and is in several places hid by buildings enriched with groves of trees. The country round Ambleside, till lately, was shewn and described by the hardy and intelligent guide Robert Partridge, who conducted Captain Budworth over the wildest moun tain. After the appearance of "Budworth's Ramble," the friends of its author sought and were accompanied by Partridge in all their lake excursions. This man, full of gratitud for the Captain's attention to him, requested and was accommodated, even while living, with the following EPITAPTH "ON ROBIN PARTRIDGE," ("WRITTEN AT HIS EXPRESS DESIRE.") "Beneath this verdant daisied clod ROBIN DE PARTRIDGE lies; Hoping, through mercy of his God, And though no conjurer, yet he, His life at Ambleside was spent→ None oftener topp'd Helvellyn's height, *Fortnight's Ramble, 3d edition. |