STEEL ENGRAVING – “BORROWDALE” from the painting by S. Bough, engraved by William Richardson, printed in 1883.  This engraving is in very good condition.  The engraving measures 7 1/8” x 9 3/4”, and is matted to 12” x 16” for easy framing.

The Norse word dale, which is seen in Kendal and Lonsdale, is according to Isaac Taylor, the equivalent of the German thal, a valley; at any rate it is not an unusual suffix to the names of places in Northumberland and the Lake country of England.  The little village of Borrowdale is situated in a narrow valley of the same name, at the head of the Derwentwater.  The whole district is wild and mountainous, the scenery often approaching to grandeur.  The river Derwert has its source at sparkling Tarn at the head of the valley, runs between meadow-lands shut in on each side by lofty hills rising to the height of four or five hundred feet, and expands into the magnificent lake Dartwentwater.  The hills, or rather mountains, are richly covered with wood.  The dale itself contains the hamlet of Grange, picturesquely situated at the entrance, and those of Rosthwaite, Seathwaite, and Seatoller.  It was once in possession of the monks of Furness.  Near Grange is Castle Cragg, a conical hill commanding a fine prospect; its sides are wooded, and on its summit are the remains of an old entrenchment.  Another object is the Bowder or Boulder Stone, a detached mass of rock resting on a narrow base: the hamlet of Bosthwaite stands at the junction of the three valleys.  This is the part of the country whence come the celebrated Cumberland leads for pencils.