A TRIP ABROAD.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 68, 15 March 1912, Page 5

A TRIP ABROAD.

(By Traveller.) The Lake district was reached via Carlyle, Penrith and Keswick. The former city, the population of which is about 50,000, is a very busy railway centre. Close to the railway station at Penrith are the ruins of an ancient castle, once the residence of the Duke of Gloucester. From Keswick to Wacerhead, on Lake Windermere, the trip is done by char-a-banc, and occupies about '3.V hours, through most interesting and beautiful scenery. Near Keswick is the much sketched lake Derwentwatcr, the route passing through the A’ale of St. John, to Thirlspot, on the left is Thirl mere lake (the water supply of .Manchester) and Helvellin. A short stoppage is made at the old Nag’s Head Inn, to allow .passengers to refresh the inner man, if they feel inclined and to visit the quaint little Wythburn church opposite. Before arriving at Grasmere, the guide points out a peculiar rock formation on the hills, locally known as the lion and the lamb. A stop- 1 page is made at the interesting village, noted amongst other tiling;; folds gingerbread, a great quanthy of which is sold to touiists. In tne church yard here, Wordsworth.'• is buried. Grasmere Luke is:a p.ieflv sheet of water about a mile in lei gth. At Rydal Water, near’Ambleside. is a mass of rock with steps ciit n.> it and surrounded by foliage. Tins is called Wordsworth seat, and is where the poet used to entire for mtlitation. At Rydal Water we had t.ic pleasure of meeting Dol. Mair, who served in the Pith itegt. during tup,Maoii war, and afterwards commanded the old “Royal Bengal Tigers” (6jt.u). The colonel, who has resided in this beautiful district for some years, married a grand-daughter of AVordswo: th’s. Hero, at Rydal Mount, the-poet resided for many years. Other famous persons have lived in this locality, amongst them, Harriet Mortineau, Lr! Arnold, and the driver pointed cat a house dated 1702, where Soulaev, Coleridge and De Quincey once lived. From Waterhead, in the afternoon, a party was made up to visit Grasmere by another route. When in a.shady avenue the driver asked ns all to close our cyos for a minute'ilhd open them when he pulled- up. We did so, and what a transformation! of scenery: a magnificent sheet of water being spread out before. : ThqfpV. ps a dense fog. on Windehmerc -early next morning which prevented the steamers running at the appointed times, consequently 1 , passeng : ef- s !ed ky. ,(|o(iphpsj milage! and on to Bowness on theiflukey lAs •! tlie. morning advanced the fog lifted, which enabled the steamer to get away for AVaterhead. On the trip up we wore shown by the captain a cosy looking place called Lonfwood, where ai Dove’s Nest Cottage,- Mrs He.nansj oncie made her home. Windermere is the largest of the lakes, being IQJ miles long. In the afternoon we sailed yia ! ”Bow^^Jf’l}oK, Lake /Side” '(tills: ■ S at the south of AVindormbre and where join the -train);i-and arrived at York, via Manchester. ‘and Leeds that evening. York—Vh-fg' eld world town—population over 1 has many attractions for the antiquarian, etc., and its pride - is its magnificent cathedral',“the See of which was founded in 625. A description of its splendid interior would be out of the question, suffice it to say, that it is 524 feet in length and 250 feet in width. The wood carvings in the choir are splendid, and the great window at the cast end is 78 feet high and 33 feet wide, and said to be the hugest in England. A service being bold during our visit, wc had an opportunity, of hearing the beautiful tones of the grand organ. The cathedral .is built of what is known as magnesian limestone, ‘and a staff of stone masons are employed to keep it in constant repair. A great portion of the city walls remain, and the view from some parts is very fine: There are four ancient bars or gite?., like towers, through which, access is got to the walls. They are called Micklegate, Bootham, Monk, and Walmgate Bars. There used to be an act performed in circuses that was especially dear to juveniles. References is made to the spectacular “Turpin’s ride to York” and the death of Bonny Black Bess. Local traditi m has it that the famous mare ended her nmndame career in a field where i be-pre-sent parade ground of-the infantrv barracks is situated, about half a mile down the Fulford Road. Fulford, now a suburb, we visited by tram. It is notable as being the scene of an encounter between Postig, brother of Harold, and ATrk, September 20th, 1060. The clergy of York took the field to encourage their countrymen against the Norwegians, and one hundred were slain. The slaughter was very great, and York surrendered. Harold shortly after defeated tlio invaders at Stamford Bridge, about nine miles from York. The passenger and goods traffic at this railway station is very great. The railway depot covers 150 acres of ground.