lake buttermere

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Lake Buttermere
At 1 1/4 miles long and less than 90 feet deep Lake Buttermere is by far not one of the largest of lakes but is most certainly one of the prettiest. Originally Buttermere and Crummock water where one large lake created in the ice age but debris washed into to the valley from the surrounding hills formed a strip of land which now separates them.The name buttermere is usually interpreted as "the lake by dairy pastures" but there is an older derivation from "Butbar", who was the Norse owner of the lake. Several of my images are panorama's as I feel that they fully capture the beauty of the lake and surrounding landscape.
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Set in its amphitheatre of mountains the peaceful tranquility of the area was shattered by scandal in 1802. In an article written in 1792 by Captain Joseph Budworth entitled "A Fortnights Ramble in the Lakes" he enthused over "The beauty of Buttermere",not the area itself but the description fitting a 15 year old girl named Mary Robinson, who was the daughter of the landlord of the Fish Inn. Such were his enthusiastic compliments that in future publications he had to tone down his comments for fear of attracting unsavoury gentlemen. Unfortunately he failed and in 1802 the Honourable Alexander Augustus Hope,MP for Linlithgow, arrived in the area and immediately gained much popularity with the locals. Six weeks later he had married Mary Robinson at Lorton Church. Samuel Taylor Coleridge was at the time living in the nearby town of Keswick and was a correspondent for the "London Morning Post". He wrote of the romantic courtship and how lucky a catch the inn keepers daughter had made marrying the Honourable Alexander Augustus Hope.However on reading this article Charles Hope,brother of Alexander Augustus Hope reported that at the time of the marriage his brother was enjoying a holiday in Europe. Mary's husband was exposed as a bogus MP and was identified as a James Hatfield, a noted swindler and bigamist,a discovery that caused an immense outcry amongst the local gentry who had welcomed him as an MP into their circle. Having been exposed James Hatfield was hanged leaving Mary with a child.She later married a farmer in 1808 and died in 1837. Mary is now buried at Caldbeck.Ironically James Hatfield was not hanged for bigamy but for defrauding the Post Office by franking his letters as an MP.Many writers and playwrights took up the story,William Wordsworth himself praising Mary's virtue in the poem "The prelude"

Above the village of Buttermere sits the small picturesque Church of St James at the junction of Honister and Newlands passes. In 1507 the original chapel was consecrated, the present building dates from 1840 and was restored in 1930. Inside the church a stone tablet can be found set into a windowsill. It is a memorial to Alfred Wainwright, the famous fell walker and author of many guidebooks. The window looks out on his favourite place to walk, Haystacks, where at his wish his ashes were scattered.
There is a very pleasant walk around Lake Buttermere on a low level path which is suitable for almost anyone including children,one of the fascinations for the younger ones is a tunnel carved through the rocks on the shore.This was created by a Mr George Benson who was the owner of nearby Hassness House in order that he would have an umimpeded walk as close to the shore as possible. The walk of four miles should take about 2 hours but many take much more time whilst taking in the views or relaxing with a picnic at the north eastern end of the lake where a view of the full length of Buttermere can be seen.The lake is now owned by the National Trust.