The Book of Coniston

remembering first and foremost, not Snowdon or Scotland, but Coniston. In 1837, as an Oxford man, he was here again, making notes for his earliest prose work, The Poetry of Architecture; and one of the illustrations was a sketch of the Old Hall from the water, the view which became so familiar afterwards from his windows at Brantwood.

Then for a while his interests turned to the cathedrals of France, the palaces and pictures of Italy, and to the loftier scenery of the Alps; but curiously enough he did not like the Matterhorn at first—it was too unlike "Cumberland," he said. In 1847, already a well-known author, he was looking out for a house in the Lake District, and staying at Ambleside. But the March weather was dull, and he had many causes for depression. As he rowed on Windermere he pined for the light and colour of southern skies. "The lake," he wrote home, "when it is quite calm, is wonderfully sad and quiet; no bright colour, no snowy peaks. Black water, as still as death; lonely, rocky islets; leafless woods, or worse than leafless; the brown oak foliage hanging dead upon them; gray sky; far-off, wild, dark, dismal moorlands; no sound except the rustling of the boat among the reeds." Next year he revisited the lakes in spring, and wrote soon after about a wild place he had found:—"Ever since I passed Shap Fells, when a child, I have had an excessive love for this kind of desolation."

It was not, however, until 1867 that he revisited the Lakes. He came to Coniston on August 10th and went up the Old Man, delighted with the ascent. We have already quoted his description of the view.

At last (it was in 1871, at the age of 52, being then Slade Professor at Oxford) he fell into a dangerous illness, and lay between life and death at Matlock. He was heard to say and repeat:—"If only I could lie down beneath the crags of Coniston!"

Before he was fairly well again he heard through his old friend, Mr. T. Richmond, that a house and land at Coniston were for sale. The owner, W. J. Linton, asked £1,500 for the estate, and he bought it at once. In September he travelled here to see his bargain and found the cottage, as it then was, in poor condition; but, as he wrote, some acres "of rock and moor and streamlet, and, I think, the finest view I know in Cumberland—or Lancashire, with the sunset visible over the same."

Next summer the house was ready for him, and thenceforward became his headquarters. From June, 1889, till his death he never left it for a night; indeed, the last time he went so far as the village was on April 7th, 1893, when he attended our Choral Society's concert.

It is needless to tell over again the story of his life at Brantwood; to describe the house that he found a rickety cottage, and left a mansion and a museum of treasures; the gardens, woods, and moor he tended; the surroundings of mountain and streamlet, bird and beast, child-pet and peasant acquaintance, now familiar to the readers of his later books and of the many books that have been written about him. But here it must not be left unsaid that Coniston folk knew him less as the famous author than as the kind and generous friend; eccentric and not easily understood, but always to be trusted for help; giving with equal readiness to all the churches, to the schools and Institute; and to these last giving not only his money, but his strength and sympathy. It was he who started the first carving classes, and promoted the linen industry; he lectured in the village (December, 1883) for local charities, and—what was perhaps most effective of all—carried out in practice his principle of employing neighbours rather than strangers, of giving the tradesfolk and labourers of the valley a share in his fortunes and interests. And perhaps in his death he did them almost a greater service. It was in obedience to his wishes that the offer of a funeral in Westminster Abbey was refused, and he was laid to rest—January 25th, 1900—"beneath the crags of Coniston," so linking his name for ever with the place he loved.

INDEX.

Above beck, 47, 48; Bovebeck, 77.
Addison of Coniston, 48; Adinson, 77.
"Allans,"44, 45.
Anglian settlement, 23.
Angling Association, 13.
Anglo-Cymric score, 25.
Arnside, 27.
Ashburner of Coniston, 77.
Ashgill quarry, 19, 66, 67.
Atkinson of Coniston, 47-49, 57, 66, 67, 74.

Bainbridge of Coniston, 77.
Bank ground, 9, 34, 77.
Banniside, 2, 6, 7, 18, 19.
Baptist chapels, 56, 57.
Barratt of Coniston, 1, 60, 80.
Barrow of Coniston, 49, 74, 77.
Basalt, 1.
Beacons, 4, 12, 15.
"Beck, brook, burn,"26.
Beck Leven, 10, 62.
Beever of Coniston, 8, 52, 53, 79.
Bell of Coniston, 42, 68, 74, 76, 77.
Bethecar, 17.
Birkett, Rev. J., 49, 54.
Black Bull, 1, 60, 72, 73, 77.
Blawith, 15, 17, 62, 63.
Bleaberry haws, 19.
Bloomeries, 10, 11, 17, 62-65.
Bloomsmithy rent, 64.
Boathouses, 8, 9, 10.
Bobbin mills, 17, 69.
Bonfires, 4.
Booth crag and tarn, 7.
Bounding of pasture, 35.
Bowmansteads, 38, 48, 76.
Bownass of Coniston, 47, 50, 55, 56, 60, 65, 66, 68, 74-76.
Brantwood, 10, 81-84.
Brasses in church, 52, 78.
British village, 15.
Brow, 47, 48, 77.
Brown How, 12.
Buccleugh, duke of, 12.
Burnmoor, 20.
Burns of Coniston, 77.
Bursting-stone quarry, 7.
Bywater, Dr., 80.

Carnarvon, Cumberland, 37.
Carrs, 5, 23.
Catbank, 47, 48, 75, 77.
Chapels at Coniston, 57.
Chapel Syke, 75.
Chapman, Rev. C, 51, 54.
Char, 13.
Charcoal-burning, 18, 36, 63, 68.
Church Coniston, 29, 32.
Church of Coniston, 46-54.
Circles, stone, 16-21.
Clergy of Coniston, 54.
Colwith, 27.
Comet, 41.
Conishead Priory land, 63, 65.
Coniston Bank, 10, 17, 81, and see Townend.
Coniston, the name, 24.
Copley of Brantwood, 81.
Coppermines, 2, 13, 22, 58-62.
Cowerd of Coniston, 47, 48.
Cowper, Mr. H. S., 14, 19, 20, 22, 27, 32, 33, 35, 65, 80.
Creighton of Coniston, 73, 77, 80.
Crowberry Haws, 2, 3.
Crown Hotel, 74, 75.
"Currock,"16.

Dawson of Coniston, 76, 77.
Deer-parks, 10, 33, 44, 64.
Deer-traps, 20.
Demetrius of Tarsus, 22.
Denison of Coniston, 48.
De Quincey at Coniston, 73.
Devil's footprints, 34-35.
Dixon of Coniston, 47-49, 74-77; Dickson, 51.
Dixon ground, 2, 48, 76, 77.
Douglas, Rev. J., 49, 54.
Dover of Coniston, 47, 48.
Dow crags, 5, 6, 23.
Dykes, ancient, 19, 20.

Edrington of Coniston, 77.
Ellwood, Rev. T., 25, 28, 61.
Evans, Rev. F., 15.

Far end, 5, 47, 48, 77.
"Feet, fit,"27; Fittess, 45.
Fellfoot, 27.
Fir island, 11.
Fir point, 9.
Fleming, Fletcher, 27.
---- Lady le, 53-55, 67, 77.
---- of Coniston, 47-49, 51, 66, 75, 76.
---- of Coniston Hall, 37-44, 50, 52.
---- Sir Daniel, 13, 27, 41, 42, 44, 59, 64.
---- Sir Daniel (in 1819), 79.
---- Thomas le, 63.
Floating island, 13.
Ford of Monk Coniston, 68, 80.
Forge, 1, 62, 69.
Furness abbey, 29, 31-36, 63, 65.
Furness fells, 29, 34, 35.

Gaits water, 6, 45; Goat's tarn, 71.
Gaskerth of Coniston, 69; Gasketh, 77; Gasgarth, 78; Gaskarth, 81.
Gateside, 47.
Gelderd of Coniston, 75, 76; Geldart, 77.
German miners, 58-60, 64.
Ghosts, 17.
Giant's grave, 15.
Giants of Troutbeck, 40.
Gibson, Dr., 3, 19, 27, 34, 40, 42, 49-51, 55, 58, 60, 61, 75.
Gill, 48, 69.
Gillhead bridge, 1, 2.
Glacial action, 1, 2, 11.
Glen Mary, 26.
Goldscope quarries, 66, 67.
Gondola, 8.
Green, Wm., 66, 67, 73.
Gresley's novel, Coniston Hall, 43.
Gridiron, 12.
Grisedale, 33.
"Grounds,"34.
Guards, 8, 26.

Half-penny alehouse, 72, 74, 80.
Hall, Coniston, 3, 10, 38-44, 71, 77.
Hallgarth, 48.
Hare crags, 19.
Harrison of Coniston, 47-49, 77, 81.
"Hause,"2.
Hawkshead, 26, 31-33.
---- hill, 57.
Haws bank, 42, 74; Hows bank, 47, 48.
Heald, 11, 18.
Heathwaite, 76.
High cross, 18.
Hilliard, Mr. L. J., 78.
Hoathwaite, 10; Huthwait, 47; Outhwaite, 77.
Hobson of Coniston, 47, 48.
Hodge close, 66, 77.
Hodgson of Coniston, 47.
Hollin bank, 77.
Holly how, 80.
Holme ground, 45, 77.
Holms of Coniston, 47.
Holywath, 1, 2, 47, 80.
How head, 77.
Hudson of Brantwood, 81.
Huertson of Coniston, 77.
Hut-circles, 18, 19.

Institute, 53, 55, 56; and see Museum.
Ion of Coniston, 76.
Iron industries, 32, 62-65; and see Bloomeries.

Jackson of Tilberthwaite, 66-69, 74-77.
Jenkin syke, 22.
Johnson of Coniston, 66, 77.

Kendal, barons of, 29, 32, 37.
Kendall, Dr., 20, 44, 55, 56.
Kernel crag, 3.
Kirkby quay, 9, 66.
Kirkby of Coniston, 76, 77.
"Kirk Sinkings,"16.
Kitchin, Dean, 82.
Knott of Monk Coniston, 42, 77, 80.

Lakebank hotel, 12.
Lake of Coniston, 8-13, 29, 32.
Lanehead, 9, 74, 80.
Lang crags, 1.
Lawson park, 18, 33, 35, 64, 77.
Levers hause, 5,6.
Levers water, 2-6; Lever water, 71.
Limestone, 2, 7.
Line or Lang gards, 44.
Linton of Brantwood, 81, 82, 84.
Little Arrow, 38, 47, 48, 76, 77.
Low Bank ground, 9.
Low house, 48.
Low water, 2, 3, 5; Lowwater fall, 3.

Mackreth of Coniston, 69.
"Man, maen,"4, 23; High Man, 18.
Manor of Coniston, 38, 44; of Monk Coniston, 36.
Marshall of Monk Coniston, 5, 9, 26, 35, 68, 74, 77, 78, 80.
Meerstone, inscribed, 18.
Masacks, Massicks of Coniston, 66, 74.
Massey, Gerald, 82.
Mills, 69, 72.
Mines, see Copper.
Model of Coniston, 7.
Monk Coniston, 29, 31-36.
---- —— hall, 35, 80.
---- —— moor, 18.
---- —— tarns, 4, 26.
Montague island, 12, 36.
Moors and their antiquities, 14-20.
Museum, 7, 12, 53, 55, 56, 67, 78.

Nibthwaite, 12, 13, 17, 62; Neburthwaite, 33.
Nook, 48.
Norman settlement, 28-30, 37.
Norse settlement, 26-28, 30, 37.
North of Coniston Bank, 81.

Oldfield, Lieut., 74.
Old Man, 1-7, 23.
Otters, 13.
Outlaws, 33, 34, 38.
Outrake, 48.
Oxenfell, 27, 77.
Oxness, 11.

Parkamoor, 17, 33, 35, 62, 64.
Park, Parke of Coniston, 48, 76, 77.
Park Yeat, 47, 48.
"Parrocks, parks,"33, 63, 64.
Partition of Furness, 29.
Peel island, 11, 12, 62, 65, 68.
Pennyrigg quarries, 5, 66.
Pilgrim's badge, 35.
Population, 69, 70.
Prehistoric antiquities, 15-21.
Priest stile, 46.
Priory, none at Coniston, 72.
Pudding-stone, 3.

Quarries, see Slate.

Radcliffe, Mrs., at Coniston, 71.
Railway, 61.
Raven crag (Yewdale), 5.
Raven tor (Old Man), 3.
Rear or Ray crag, 45.
Rigbye, Miss, 80.
Ring mounds, 16-19.
Robinson of Coniston, 47, 69, 72, 74, 76.
Roman Catholics, 40, 57.
Roman roads, 22.
Roule, Sir R., 46.
Ruskin cross, 53.
Ruskin, John, 4, 7, 10, 56, 57, 74, 83-85.

Saddlestones quarry, 3, 66.
Sanders of Coniston, 77.
Satterthwaite, 33.
Sawrey of Coniston, 77.
Schools, 46, 54, 55.
Scrow, 2, 7.
Selside, 12, 17, 62.
Severn of Brantwood, 11, 55, 56, 81.
Ship inn, 74.
Sidney, Sir Philip, 40.
Silverbank, 1, 47, 48.
Simon Nick, 60.
Slate quarries, 2, 4, 5, 7, 65-68.
Sly of Coniston, 74.
Smartfield, 48.
Smith, Elizabeth, 78.
Smithies, 64.
Smith of Coniston Bank, 81.
Spedding of Coniston, 66, 75, 77.
Spoon hall, 76, 77.
Springs bloomery, 10, 62, 65.
Stable Harvey, 62, 65.
Statesmen, 74-77.
Stone rings, Burney, 16.
Suert of Coniston, 77.
Sun hotel, 2, 74.
Sunnybank, 11, 57.
Swinside circle, 16, 21.

Tanneries, 68.
Tarn hows, Tarnhouse, 77.
Tarns, see Monk Coniston, Gaitswater, Levers, Lowwater.
Tennyson at Coniston, 78.
Tent cottage, 9, 35, 78.
Tent lodge, 9, 78.
Thingmounts, 27-29.
Thompson of Coniston, 66, 80.
Thurston water, 8, 13, 29, 32, 44, 72.
"Thwaite,"26.
Thwaite cottage, 80.
Thwaite house, 8, 79.
Tilberthwaite, 47, 48, 67, 77.
---- gill, 5; Micklegill, 45.
Todd, Mr. E., 56.
Tom or Tarn gill, 26, 62.
Towers of Coniston, 47, 48, 77.
Townend, 71, 72, 77, 81; and see Coniston bank.
Townson of Coniston, 49, 69, 78.
Tubman of Coniston, 76.
Turner the painter at Coniston, 72.
Tyson of Coniston, 47, 48, 64, 66, 74, 77.

Vickers of Coniston, 47, 66.
Volcanic rock, 2, 7.

Walker of Coniston, 48, 66, 67, 77.
Walna scar, 20, 21.
Warsop, Mr., 61, 62.
Waterhead, 35, 77, 80.
---- hotel, 8, 9.
---- old inn, 9, 74.
Waterpark (Coniston), 62, 64.
---- (Nibthwaite), 12, 33, 64; Watsyde park, 35.
Weatherlam, 2, 5, 26.
Welsh survivals, 23.
West, Father, 38, 39, 66, 71.
"Whittlegate,"46.
Will o' t' Tarns, 40.
Wilson of Coniston, 66, 77.
Wonderful Walker, 20, 72.
Wonwaldremere, 24.
Wood industries, 68, 69.
Woods, 36, 64.
Woodville, Mr. T., 79, 81.
Woollen, burials in, 51.
Wordsworth at Coniston, 72, 80.

Yewdale, 5, 62, 77; Udale, 48.
---- beck, 26, 44.
---- crag, 5, 10.
---- grove, 79.
Yewtree, 27; Utree, 77.
Youdale of Coniston, 66.