Keswick 6 August 1809
Dear Brother,
As I thought you would like to hear
something about the Lakes. I thought this a good oppor=
=tunity. We purpose assending Skiddan tomorrow, but I
must give you a little narrative how we went on.
We left Lpool on Tuesday 1 August. Nothing worth
noticing occurred till we arrived at Lancaster where
we stopt all night, next morning we prepared to cross
the sands to Ulverstone which was something new, we
got over these safely, it is very curious crossing the
fords one of which appeared about half a mile, you
appear to be drifting with the Tide which confounds
both yourself and the horses, but we had the stage
coach before us all the way, our driver who had never
crossed them before said he should not have known
what to have done but for the coach; [deleted] we arrived
at Ulverston where we dined and then went to see
Furniss Abbey which is a most noble ruin, it has been
uncommonly large and very elegant which indeed
it is now, there are several amazing arches standing
yet which are very beautiful, and a council chamber
[new page]
w^ch we were told was covered with gold and {?vermillion}
there are the remains of the marble columns still stan=
=ding down one part of the wall w^ch is very high
there appears to be a starcase, we could see part
of the winding steps, so that there is no doubt
but that it is vaulted under, we did not hear of
any body having ever ventured down. This abbey
was founded by King Stephen and there are the
heads of Stephen and Queen Maud; Amongst some
nettles we discovered a man cut in stone apparently
over a grave with a sword in his hand, and there
are several other graves with stones over them
the inscriptions of w^ch we could not read, one
has been opened we are told by consent of the owner
(Lord Geo Cavendish) to see if any money was
In it, but the found nothing but dry bones.
A Mr Townson told us about £40 has been found
There, and perhaps more may be in the cellar.
This ruin is worth going a hundred miles to see.
After viewing this ruin we returned to Ulverston where
we staid all night; Next morning we set off to
[new page]
Our way to Consiston Water where we arrived about 11 o
clock. This lake is about 6 miles long and about ¾ wide
in the broadest part, it was very rainy while we stopped
so we could not go on the water, [deleted] {^thought as} I found an
old leaky boat [deleted] {^I} fully intended {?heaving} a sail had
not Father come up. On our way to Windermere
we saw Esthwaite Water a beautiful small lake
about 2 miles long, We next arrived at Windemere
this is the largest lake of all it is 14 miles long and
near 3 {?miles} wide it has several very beautiful Islands on
it one belonging to C Curwen Esq has a very handsome
seat on it this Site is 1 ½ miles in circumference, [damaged]
here visited the station house which is admirably situated
on an {?eminance} for commanding a view of the
lake it has a beautifull room in it hung round with
[deleted] views of the Lakes and the windows of painted
glass which has a charming effect {^this beongs to C Curwen Esq} We left our
vehicle at the ferry house and went in a small
boat, our carriage going in a large ferry boat.
I was surprized to find the lake as rough as it
is on some windy days at Lpool and the men
told us it was very dangerous in the Winter with
sails on acc^t of the sudden squalls.
[new page]
We staid all night at how wood inn from where
we set off for Keswick {^this is a charming ride the country is} on our way thither
said to resemble Switzerland and our driver who has been there says
stopped about an hour to see two waterfalls near
the same only that the hills in Switzerland are full as [illeg/damaged]
water they are truly Grand, and in winter
must be tremendous, in the brook which runs
from it I saw several large trouts swimming
M^r W^m Bateman Jun^r
Mess^rs Tho^s & W^m Batemans
Brown Street
Manchester
about at the depth of two yards the water
so clear you might see almost any thing at the
bottom, My Paper will not let me proceed
I think you will have had enough of this
I remain yours very sincerely
Tho^s Bateman
P.S. Windermere
is 40 fathoms deep
in some places and amazingly clear
Aunt & Uncle send their
Love to Godfather, Farhter and Sister send their love
Excuse me
Horrid pens and [damaged]

Keswick 6 August 1809
Dear Brother,
As I thought you would like to hear
something about the Lakes. I thought this a good oppor=
=tunity. We purpose assending Skiddan tomorrow, but I
must give you a little narrative how we went on.
We left Lpool on Tuesday 1 August. Nothing worth
noticing occurred till we arrived at Lancaster where
we stopt all night, next morning we prepared to cross
the sands to Ulverstone which was something new, we
got over these safely, it is very curious crossing the
fords one of which appeared about half a mile, you
appear to be drifting with the Tide which confounds
both yourself and the horses, but we had the stage
coach before us all the way, our driver who had never
crossed them before said he should not have known
what to have done but for the coach; [deleted] we arrived
at Ulverston where we dined and then went to see
Furniss Abbey which is a most noble ruin, it has been
uncommonly large and very elegant which indeed
it is now, there are several amazing arches standing
yet which are very beautiful, and a council chamber
[new page]
w^ch we were told was covered with gold and {?vermillion}
there are the remains of the marble columns still stan=
=ding down one part of the wall w^ch is very high
there appears to be a starcase, we could see part
of the winding steps, so that there is no doubt
but that it is vaulted under, we did not hear of
any body having ever ventured down. This abbey
was founded by King Stephen and there are the
heads of Stephen and Queen Maud; Amongst some
nettles we discovered a man cut in stone apparently
over a grave with a sword in his hand, and there
are several other graves with stones over them
the inscriptions of w^ch we could not read, one
has been opened we are told by consent of the owner
(Lord Geo Cavendish) to see if any money was
In it, but the found nothing but dry bones.
A Mr Townson told us about £40 has been found
There, and perhaps more may be in the cellar.
This ruin is worth going a hundred miles to see.
After viewing this ruin we returned to Ulverston where
we staid all night; Next morning we set off to
[new page]
Our way to Consiston Water where we arrived about 11 o
clock. This lake is about 6 miles long and about ¾ wide
in the broadest part, it was very rainy while we stopped
so we could not go on the water, [deleted] {^thought as} I found an
old leaky boat [deleted] {^I} fully intended {?heaving} a sail had
not Father come up. On our way to Windermere
we saw Esthwaite Water a beautiful small lake
about 2 miles long, We next arrived at Windemere
this is the largest lake of all it is 14 miles long and
near 3 {?miles} wide it has several very beautiful Islands on
it one belonging to C Curwen Esq has a very handsome
seat on it this Site is 1 ½ miles in circumference, [damaged]
here visited the station house which is admirably situated
on an {?eminance} for commanding a view of the
lake it has a beautifull room in it hung round with
[deleted] views of the Lakes and the windows of painted
glass which has a charming effect {^this beongs to C Curwen Esq} We left our
vehicle at the ferry house and went in a small
boat, our carriage going in a large ferry boat.
I was surprized to find the lake as rough as it
is on some windy days at Lpool and the men
told us it was very dangerous in the Winter with
sails on acc^t of the sudden squalls.
[new page]
We staid all night at how wood inn from where
we set off for Keswick {^this is a charming ride the country is} on our way thither
said to resemble Switzerland and our driver who has been there says
stopped about an hour to see two waterfalls near
the same only that the hills in Switzerland are full as [illeg/damaged]
water they are truly Grand, and in winter
must be tremendous, in the brook which runs
from it I saw several large trouts swimming
M^r W^m Bateman Jun^r
Mess^rs Tho^s & W^m Batemans
Brown Street
Manchester
about at the depth of two yards the water
so clear you might see almost any thing at the
bottom, My Paper will not let me proceed
I think you will have had enough of this
I remain yours very sincerely
Tho^s Bateman
P.S. Windermere
is 40 fathoms deep
in some places and amazingly clear
Aunt & Uncle send their
Love to Godfather, Farhter and Sister send their love
Excuse me
Horrid pens and [damaged]