Correspondence

Gowbarrow Fell And Aira Force.

To the Editor of the
YORKSHIRE RAMBLERS’ CLUB JOURNAL.

SIR,

The National Trust for places of Historic Interest, or Natural Beauty has undertaken to raise the sum of £12,000 for the purchase of Gowbarrow Park Estate, to be held in trust for the people of England as a place of recreation, and for the strengthening of the exhausted energies which are being used up in the strenuous life of our large towns.

A similar effort was made a few years ago when the Brandelhow Estate, by the side of Derwentwater, was purchased and devoted to the use of the Nation; and many proofs have been forthcoming since then of the boon which people have found this national possession to be.

The property now proposed to be acquired consists of Gowbarrow Fell and the lovely glen in which is situated Aira Force, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Lake District.  The Fell rises to a height of 1,578 feet above sea level, and there is probably no single fell in the Lake District from which a finer grouping of mountain tops and a greater extent of diversified scenery can be seen.  The Fell has not hitherto been accessible to the tourist, and has been from time immemorial a sanctuary for bird and beast.  Red deer are to be met on it at the present day and have been there ever since the time of William Rufus, if not earlier; and very recently a specimen of that rare bird the golden eagle was seen.

It is intended, so far as possible, to maintain the property as a haven of rest for all animals that may take up their abode there, and also to carefully preserve all specimens of rare plant life which grow there in such great abundance and variety.

The extent of the estate is 740 acres, with a frontage of one mile to Ullswater, and this with “rights of fishing and boating, the deer forest, the woods, and the waterfall can be obtained as a national possession for the sum of £12,000” – very moderate amount when the unique beauty of the property is considered.

A Local Committee has been formed in Leeds to aid in the collection of money for this object, and several members of our Club are on this Committee.

Remembering the valuable help given by members of the Club to the Brandelhow Scheme, when we were instrumental in raising something like £100, I appeal with confidence for their hearty support and assistance to this much larger and more important project.  I would suggest that each member do what he can in the way of subscription, and also that he endeavours to collect amongst his friends.  For this purpose collecting cards have been printed and may be obtained from either of our Secretaries.  When filled up the cards may be forwarded along with the money collected to H. S. Chorley, Esq., 16, Park Place, Leeds, who will hand them to the local Treasurer and send a receipt to the collector.

The present opportunity of purchase if let slip may not occur again, as with improving means of access such a fine, estate is soon likely to be snapped up by the speculative builder.  As Ramblers, the preservation of any lovely bit of country should specially appeal to our sympathy and practical help, and therefore I most confidently call upon fellow Ramblers to assist in rescuing yet another of the fast disappearing beauty spots from danger of the spoiler, and from ultimate destruction.

Let me, in closing, quote the following eloquent words of appeal by Canon Rawnsley, which recently appeared in The Yorkshire Post:-

When in the black-robed city of the King,
Who wore his iron-black armour with such pride,
I heard a voice that like a trumpet cried,
“Give to the far-off people Earth’s best thing –
A mountain height that knows the eagle’s wing,
Where the red deer stand proudly side by side
Then vanish like a dream, and far and wide
Hill, lake, and moorland make the sad heart sing ;”
I, turning, saw the weary merchants come
And lay their gold at the beseecher’s feet,
Saying, “Oh l give us sun, sweet air, and light;
We pine and dwindle in this sulphurous night:
Keep us a land of rest, whose hope is sweet,
And let us dream, on earth, of Heaven our home.”

Yours faithfully,

J. M. Nicol.