Windermere
Windermere | ||
---|---|---|
Primary inflows Brathay, Rothay, Trout Beck, Cunsey Beck | | |
Primary outflows | River Leven | |
Basin countries | United Kingdom | |
Max. length | 11.23 miles (18.07 km) | |
Max. width | 0.93 miles (1.50 km) | |
Surface area | 14.73 km2 (5.69 sq mi) | |
Max. depth | 219 ft (67 m) | |
Surface elevation | 128 ft (39 m) | |
Islands | 19 (Belle Isle, see list) |
Windermere (sometimes tautologically called Lake Windermere to distinguish it from the nearby town of Windermere[a]) is a ribbon lake in Cumbria, England, and part of the Lake District.[5] It is the largest lake in England by length, area, and volume, but considerably smaller than the largest Scottish lochs and Northern Irish loughs.
The lake is about 11 miles (18 km) in length and 1 mile (1.6 km) at its widest, has a maximum depth of 64 metres (210 ft), and has an elevation of 39 metres (128 ft) above sea level. Its outflow is the River Leven, which drains into Morecambe Bay. The lake is in the administrative council area of Westmorland and Furness and the historic county of Westmorland, with the lake forming part of the boundary between the historic counties of Westmorland and Lancashire. It has been one of the country's most popular places for holidays and summer homes since the arrival of the Kendal and Windermere Railway's branch line in 1847. The Freshwater Biological Association was established on the shore of Windermere in 1929 and much of the early work on lake ecology, freshwater biology and limnology was conducted here.
Etymology
The word 'Windermere' is thought to translate as "'Winand or Vinand's lake'... The specific has usually been identified with an Old Swedish personal name 'Vinandr', genitive singular 'Vinandar'"... although "the personal noun is of very restricted distribution even in Sweden." Another possibility is that it refers to a "Continental Germanic personal noun, 'Wīnand'...Since this name could not have been current until the 12th century, the fact that the Old Norse genitive singular '-ar-' has been added to it, it would suggest that Old Norse was still a living language in the area at that time."[6] Alternative spellings may be 'Wynhendermere' and 'Wynenderme' [7] The second element is
Its name suggests it is a
The extensive parish included most of Undermilbeck (that is, excepting Winster and the part of Crook chapelry that lay west of the Gilpin, which were part of Kirkby Kendal parish), Applethwaite, Troutbeck and Ambleside-below-Stock, that is, the part of Ambleside that lay south of Stock Beck. The parish church was at Bowness in Undermilbeck.
Geography
Windermere is long and narrow, like many other
The lake is drained from its southernmost point by the River Leven.[14] It is replenished by the rivers Brathay, Rothay, Trout Beck, Cunsey Beck and several other lesser streams. The lake is largely surrounded by foothills of the Lake District which provide pleasant low-level walks; to the north and northeast are the higher fells of central Lakeland.[14]
There is debate as to whether the stretch of water between Newby Bridge and Lakeside at the southern end of the lake should be considered part of Windermere, or a navigable stretch of the River Leven. This affects the stated length of the lake, which is 11.23 miles (18.07 km) long if measured from the bridge at Newby Bridge,[14] or 10.5 miles (16.9 km) if measured from Lakeside[citation needed]. The lake varies in width up to a maximum of 1 mile (1.6 km), and covers an area of 14.73 km2 (5.69 sq mi).[14] With a maximum depth of 66.7 m (219 ft) and an elevation above sea level of 39 m (128 ft), the lowest point of the lake bed is well below sea level.[14]
There is only one town or village directly on the lakeshore, Bowness-on-Windermere, as the village of Windermere does not directly touch the lake and the centre of Ambleside is one mile (1.6 km) to the north of Waterhead. The village of Windermere is about 20 minutes' walk from Millerground, the nearest point on the lakeshore. It did not exist before the arrival of the railway in 1847. The station was built in an area of open fell and farmland in the township of Applethwaite. The nearest farm was Birthwaite, which gave its name to the station and the village that began to grow up near it. In about 1859, the residents began to call their new village by the name of Windermere, much to the chagrin of the people of Bowness, which had been the centre of the parish of Windermere for many centuries. Since 1907 the two places have been under one council and, although there are still two separate centres, the area between is largely built up, albeit bordering on woodland and open fields. Windermere railway station is a hub for train and bus connections to the surrounding areas and is 1+1⁄4 miles (2 km) from the Waterbus jetty. There is a regular train service to Oxenholme on the West Coast Main Line, where there are fast trains to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester Airport, Birmingham and London.
Islands
The lake contains eighteen islands.[15] By far the largest is the privately owned Belle Isle opposite Bowness.[15] It is around a kilometre in length,[15] and 16 hectares (40 acres).[citation needed] Its older name was Lang Holme, and 800 years ago it was the centre of the manor of Windermere and later, in effect, of a moiety of the barony of Kendal.[citation needed]
The other islands or "holmes" are considerably smaller. The word "holme" or "holm" means small island or islet and comes from Old Norse holmr (as in Stockholm). The island of Lady Holme is named after the chantry that formerly stood there and in former centuries was sometimes called St Mary Holme or just Mary Holme. The remaining islands are Bee Holme (the insular status of which depends on the water level), Blake Holme, Crow Holme, Birk or Birch Holme (called Fir Holme on Ordnance Survey maps), Grass Holme, Lilies of the Valley (East, and West), Ling Holme (a rocky hump with a few trees and a growth of ling), Hawes Holme, Hen Holme (also rocky and sometimes known as chair and Table Island from some old flags or slabs of stone that were formerly found there), Maiden Holme (the smallest island, with just one tree), Ramp Holme (variously called Roger Holme and Berkshire Island at different times in its history), Rough Holme, Snake Holme, Thompson Holme (the second largest), Silver Holme.[15]
Local government
Before 1974, the lake lay wholly within the county of Westmorland; however, the historic county boundary between Lancashire and Westmorland runs down the western shore of the lake and also along about three miles (5 km) of the southern section of the eastern shore. Anyone crossing the lake from east to west on the Windermere Ferry thus travels from the historic county of Westmorland to that of Lancashire.
Local government reorganisation in 1974 placed Windermere and its shores within the district of
Boating
Steamer and launches
Passenger services operate along the whole length of the lake, from
These services date back to the former Furness Railway, who built the Lakeside branch, and were at one time operated by British Rail, the former state-owned rail operator. Since privatisation, three of the original large railway boats are operated by Windermere Lake Cruises Ltd, along with a fleet of smaller and more modern launches. Three of the original four boats survive: the MV Tern of 1891, the MV Teal of 1936, and the MV Swan of 1938.[17] The fourth, MV Swift of 1900, was broken up at Lakeside in 1998.[18][19] Her rudder and only one propeller are displayed at Bowness.[20] Although often described as steamers, all are now diesel motor vessels. Tern and Swift were built with steam engines, but converted to diesel power in the 1950s.
Ferries
The
Boat clubs
There are five large boating clubs based around the lake: the South Windermere Sailing Club, Windermere Motor Boat Racing Club, the Lake District Boat Club, the Royal Windermere Yacht Club, and the Windermere Cruising Association. The Royal Windermere Yacht Club maintains a set of turning marks on the lake, which are also used by the Windermere Cruising Association. The Lake District Boat Club is a family orientated club open to all (owning a boat is not essential),[24] with premises located in Bowness the club house has views of the lake and surrounding fells.[25] The LDBC also run a full programme of both social and racing events.[26] The Windermere Cruising Association organises the popular Winter Series. This event benefits from not being hindered by the large waves, caused by gales, that often lead to sea racing being cancelled. The WCA also have a full calendar of summer races which are open to all abilities.
At the south end of the lake is South Windermere Sailing Club, based at Fell Foot park on the east shore. It was started in 1961 as a family sailing club and has been the starting point for many successful British dinghy racing competitors including British, European and world champions. The notoriously fluky wind on the lake has proved a successful training ground in learning to read the fast-changing wind. SWSC celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2011 and has developed a strong junior section under the coaching of Julie Tomkinson[27] who in 2011 was honoured with an RYA Community Award for Outstanding Contribution.
In 2015 Lakeland Rowing club set up a base at Fell Foot Park. The club grew quickly and has now separated from the Northern section of the club (based at Derwent water) and has taken the name Windermere Rowing Club. The club is small in comparison to the more established clubs in the country but is continually growing with the number of both members and boats constantly increasing.
The Ferry House Regatta was the subject of a painting by Thomas Allom and in Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1837 this was illustrated in the poem Regatta.—Windermere Lake. by Letitia Elizabeth Landon.[28]
Speed records
On Friday 13 June 1930, Sir Henry Segrave broke the world water speed record on Windermere in his boat, Miss England II at an average speed of 158.94 km/h (98.76 mph). On the third run over the course, off Belle Grange, the boat capsized. Segrave's mechanic, Victor Helliwell drowned, but Segrave was rescued by support boats. He died a short time later of his injuries. Segrave was one of the few people in history who have held the world land speed record and water speed record simultaneously.
Racer Norman Buckley set several world water speed records on Windermere in the 1950s.[29]
Speed limits
For many years,
Windermere Steamboat Museum
The long popularity of
Windermere water bus
In 2005, the Windermere Management Strategy identified the potential for
Swimming
Great North Swim
On Saturday 13 September 2008, Windermere hosted the inaugural Great North Swim, a one-mile (1.6 km) open water swim involving 2,200 swimmers.[34] The second annual swim took place on 12 and 13 September 2009, with 6,000 swimmers, making this the largest open water swim in the UK.[35]
Three Lakes Challenge
The 40-mile (64 km) Three Lakes Challenge (or Loch, Lake, Llyn) is a challenge first completed by a 5-person relay with Sam Plum, Jason Betley, Helen Gibbs, Helen Liddle, and Debbie Taylor on 3–4 July 2015 under English Channel rules. The course involves swimming the length of Loch Awe in Scotland (25 miles; 40 km), then driving to the Lake District and swimming the length of Windermere (10+1⁄2 miles; 17 km), and finally driving to Wales and swimming the length of Bala Lake (4 miles; 6 km). This challenge is intended as the swimming equivalent of the National Three Peaks Challenge.
Sewage release
In 2021, it was reported that the sewage-treatment plant in Ambleside legally discharged sewage into Windermere for 1,719 hours during 2020 (equivalent to 71 out of 365 days), and that private septic tanks from residential dwellings, holiday homes and caravan sites also released sewage into the lake.[36] A local resident made national news by suggesting the lake could become "ecologically dead", with the growth of blue-green algae,[37] and microscopic organisms being described as "toxic as cobra venom".[38] However, beyond the resident's speculation, there was little evidence of this being true, with ecologists and subsequent studies showing pollution levels better than suggested, and localized to smaller areas of the lake.[37]
In July 2022, the Love Windermere partnership was created to tackle challenges in the lake. Nutrients, climate change, more extreme weather patterns and the seasonal variations of the tourist population are all predicted to put the lake and its water quality under increasing pressure in the coming years.[39]
In 2023, it was reported that data from the Environment Agency showed that United Utilities released sewage from storm overflows into the lake for 246 days in 2022.[40]
Popular culture
William Wordsworth, one of the Lake Poets, described the view of Windermere from the crest of a hill in The Prelude, Book IV:
Standing alone, as from a rampart’s edge,
I overlooked the bed of Windermere,
Like a vast river, stretching in the sun.
With exultation, at my feet I saw
Lake, islands, promontories, gleaming bays,
A universe of Nature’s fairest forms
Proudly revealed with instantaneous burst,
Magnificent, and beautiful, and gay.[41]
The lake gave its name to a group of 300 Jewish boys, the "Windermere Boys", who survived
Legends of female centaurs in Windermere served as the basis for Archie Fisher's 1976 song The Witch of the West-Mer-Lands, which was later covered by Stan Rogers. Fisher cites "tales of antlered women with bodies of deer seen wading in the shallows of the lakes in the moonlight" as the inspiration for his song. "Apparently deer used to swim across the shallow end of Lake Windermere and weeds got caught in their antlers and observers, probably wandering home from a local hostelry, took them to be these mythical creatures."[46]
Windermere is a location used in the 1994
Some people believe that there may be a lake monster,[47] similar to the one alleged to live in Loch Ness, and in 2011 anomalous photos were taken of the supposed creature;[48][49] it has been affectionately nicknamed "Bownessie".[49]
In 2017, some scenes from the 2018 live action film Peter Rabbit were filmed in Windermere and Ambleside, with the Peter Rabbit heritage being strongly linked to the area.[50]
Taylor Swift mentions "Windermere peaks" and Wordsworth in her song, "The Lakes," included as a bonus track on her 2020 album, Folklore. She writes:
Take me to the lakes where all the poets went to die
I don't belong, and my beloved, neither do you
Those Windermere peaks look like a perfect place to cry
I'm setting off, but not without my muse[51]
Bibliography
- Parker, John Wilson (2004). An Atlas of the English Lakes. Cicerone Press. ISBN 978-1-85284-355-7.
Notes
- ^ When differentiation from the town is needed, the term "Lake Windermere" is most commonly used by those making a living on the lake, such as Windermere Lake Cruises: "See all of Lake Windermere on one easy ticket",[1] also the BBC,[2] The Times[3] and many others. The substantially rarer form is "Windermere Lake".[4]
References
- ^ "Explore Windermere, England's largest lake by boat". Windermere Lake Cruises. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
- ^ "Boat comes in for Lake Windermere". 12 March 2004. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
- ^ Vaughan, Adam (17 January 2023). "Alert at Lake Windermere over toxin levels that turned water green". Retrieved 1 September 2023.
- ^ "Windermere lake". Visit Cumbria. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
- ^ "Lake District National Park - Explore Windermere". Lakedistrict.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 3 April 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
- ISBN 978-0-904889-72-7.
- ^ Plea Rolls of the Court of Common Pleas; Richard III; 1484; "AALT Page". Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
- ^ "Gray's Book of Roads". George Carrington Gray. 1824. Archived from the original on 29 June 2015.
- ^ Daniel Defoe (1726). A Tour through the Whole Island of Great Britain. "I must not forget Winander Mere, which makes the utmost northern bounds of this shire ..."
- ^ Nicholson, Norman (1972). Portrait of the Lakes (2nd ed.). London: Robert Hale & Company. pp. 190, p.77.
- .
- ^ S2CID 128514750.
- ^ "Windermere Catchment Restoration Programme". Archived from the original on 6 March 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
- ^ a b c d e Parker, 2004, pages 22–33
- ^ a b c d "Windermere: Islands". Lake District National Park. Archived from the original on 24 June 2012.
- ^ "Timetables". Windermere Lake Cruises Ltd. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
- ^ "Vessels". Windermere Lake Cruises Ltd. Archived from the original on 3 April 2007. Retrieved 11 May 2007.
- ^ "Mersey Shipping News". Irish Sea Shipping. 29 June 1997. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Mersey Shipping News". Irish Sea Shipping. 31 August 1998. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "MV Swift Steamer Screw, Bowness-on-Windermere". Archived from the original on 18 October 2012.
- ^ "Windermere ferry". Cumbria County Council. Archived from the original on 20 November 2008. Retrieved 12 November 2008.
- ^ "Fell Foot Park - Getting There". National Trust. Archived from the original on 29 July 2009. Retrieved 20 December 2009.
- ^ "Bowness to Ferry House". Windermere Lake Cruises Ltd. Archived from the original on 3 July 2009. Retrieved 20 December 2009.
- ^ "The Lake District Boat Club". The Lake District Boat Club. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
- ^ "Function room hire at The Lake District Boat Club |". Retrieved 31 May 2019.
- ^ "Tri-fold Calendar 2019" (PDF). The Lake District Boat Club. 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
- ^ Patrick O'Kane. "Yachting: Julie makes Royal appointment". Thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk. Archived from the original on 14 September 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
- ^ Landon, Letitia Elizabeth (1836). "picture". Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1837. Fisher, Son & Co.Landon, Letitia Elizabeth (1836). "poetical illustration". Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1837. Fisher, Son & Co.
- ^ "1956: World water speed record smashed". BBC. 17 September 1956. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016.
- ^ Windermere Navigation Byelaws 2008 and Windermere Registration Byelaws 2008
- ^ "Windermere Waterbus Needs and Preferences Study - Final Report" (PDF). Lake District National Park Authority. June 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
- ^ "North West Evening Mail | News | Trial to extend Windermere waterbus service set to start". Archived from the original on 13 June 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
- ^ "Views sought on extra Windermere water bus stops". BBC News. 15 January 2012. Archived from the original on 5 January 2016.
- ^ Francesca Williams (12 June 2015). "Great North Swim: Why open water swimmers love Windermere". BBC News.
- ^ "Great North Swim hailed a success". BBC News. 14 September 2009.
- ^ "Windermere: 'No evidence' of pollution across whole lake". BBC News. 8 October 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
- ^ a b Horton, Helena (8 October 2021). "Lake District sewage could leave Windermere 'ecologically dead'". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
- ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
- ^ "New cross-collaborative partnership set up to tackle the environmental challenges facing Windermere". ITV News. 8 July 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
- ^ Badshah, Nadeem (29 May 2023). "Steve Coogan, Paul Whitehouse and Lee Mack join Windermere pollution protest". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
- ^ The Complete Poetical Works of William Wordsworth. Cosimo, Inc. 2008. p. 76.
- ^ "An introduction to Lady Windermere's Fan". British Library. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
- ^ "History of Pullwood Bay". Pullwood Bay. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
- ^ "The inspiring story of how Windermere helped 300 Jewish children fleeing the Nazis". Lancashire Life. 18 August 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
- ^ ldhp. "Lake District Holocaust Project - The Lake District Holocaust Project is a living commemoration of the remarkable connection between The Holocaust and the Lake District". Lake District Holocaust Project. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
- ^ "The Witch of the Westmorlands". Mainly Norfolk. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
- ^ "List of local stories relating to "Bownessie"". The Westmorland Gazette. Archived from the original on 21 October 2010. Retrieved 18 February 2011.
- ^ Kate Proctor (17 February 2011). "Is this Windermere's mysterious Bownessie monster?". The Westmorland Gazette. Archived from the original on 19 March 2012. Retrieved 18 February 2011.
- ^ a b Collins, Nick (18 February 2011). "New photo of 'English Nessie' hailed as best yet". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 16 April 2018.
- ^ Deehan, Tom. "Peter Rabbit Filming In The Lake District". thelocationguide.com.
- ^ Kaufman, Gil (18 August 2020). "Listen to a Delightful Bonus Song From the Deluxe Edition of Taylor Swift's 'Folklore'". Billboard. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
External links
- Windermere on Lake District National Park Authority website
- Windermere on Visitcumbria.com
- The Three Lakes Challenge
- Lake Windermere Depth Map
- "Top 10 Astonishing Facts about Lake Windermere". Discover Walks Blog. 15 May 2022.
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