Author Description

2019 sees the 250th anniversary of the beginnings of tourism in Keswick and Derwentwater. Thomas Gray, poet and explorer, made a journal of his visit in 1769, calling the valley the 'Vale of Elysium'. Six months later Wordsworth was born. A mere twelve years later Peter Crosthwaite opened his museum in Keswick Main Street and held the first Derwentwater Regatta with his crony Joseph Pocklington. The lake and surrounding mountains echoed and re-echoed to the sound and fury of cannon as Crosthwaite's ships fought to take Pocklington's Island. Tourism was up and running.Wordsworth and Southey helped to shape the fledgling industry. Their nature poems and romantic ideals became the touchstone of taste: their Lakes the place to visit. But behind the scenes they were also manipulating the management of the scenery, particularly around Derwentwater. The lake, the islands and the shores of Derwentwater ever since tourism began have been ‘in the lap of the Gods’ – largely absentee landowners who have been persuaded by the poets and by public opinion to manage their estates for beauty rather than for profit. Some of these gods were outrageous characters, such as Lord William Gordon who eloped with a favourite of King George III and yet rose to be Keeper of Green Park, London. Without asking the good people of Borrowdale he built them a new road to Portinscale 600 feet up the side of Catbells and was astonished when they refused to use it.More sober were the Marshall family, upstart mill-owners from Leeds, who were persuaded by Wordsworth to buy the eastern shores of Derwentwater and Lord’s Island. This family were responsible for building St. John’s Church in Keswick and for caring for Derwent Island. The islands themselves have a fascinating history. St. Herbert’s, named for the saintly hermit who lived there in the 7th century, has been home to a 14th century chapel and more recently a ‘summer-house’ built around 1800 for wild parties far from prying eyes. In the Civil War