In 1870-72, John Marius Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales described Rydal like this:
RYDAL, a village, a township, and a chapelry, in Grasmere parish, Westmoreland The village stands on the river Rothay, at the foot of Rydal water, 1¼ mile N N W of Ambleside, and 5¾ N N W of Windermere r.station; and is small but picturesque. The township contains also Loughrigg hamlet, and bears the name of Rydal and Loughrigg. ...
Acres, 5, 200. Post-town, Ambleside, under Windermere. Real property, £2, 485. Pop., 414. Houses, 72. The manor, with R. Hall, belongs to Gen. Le Fleming. R. Mount was the residence and death-place of the poet Wordsworth. The scenery abounds with some of the finest features of the Lakeregion, and is enhanced by a number of tasteful Lakeresidences. R. Nab, R. Head, R. water, Loughrigg fell, and a streamlet with two picturesque falls are some of the interior features. R. Head is 2, 950 feet high. R.water is an expansion of the river Rothay; was anciently called Routhmere; has an oval outline; and, though measuring only about ½ a mile by scarcely 1/3 of a mile, presents an isleted surface, an intricated cincture, and a diversified hill-frame of exceeding beauty. Few places of equal extent have been so much sung by poets, oreulogised by prose writers, as Rydal. The chapelry is conterminate with the township. The living is a p.curacy in the diocese of Carlisle. Value, £100. Patron, Gen. Le Fleming. The church was built in 1824, is in the pointed style, and has a pinnacled square tower.
Rydal through time
Rydal is now part of South Lakeland district. Click here for graphs and data of how South Lakeland has changed over two centuries. For statistics about Rydal itself, go to Units and Statistics.
GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, History of Rydal, in South Lakeland and Westmorland | Map and description, A Vision of Britain through Time.
URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/2839
Date accessed: 05th November 2024
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