LOWESWATER, Cumberland - Extract from National Gazetteer, 1868

"LOWESWATER, a parochial chapelry in the parish of St. Bees and ward of Allerdale-above-Derwent, county Cumberland, 7 miles S.E. of Cockermouth, its post town, and 10 N.E. of Egremont. It is situated in a deep and extensive vale at the foot of Blake Fell, between the north-western part of Crummockwater and the lake bearing its name. The river Cocker bounds it on the E., separating it from Lorton. The chapelry includes, besides the township of Loweswater, those of Mockerkin and Sosgill, and the hamlet of Thackthwaite, with part of Crummockwater. Here is the famed Scale Force waterfall, the waters of which are precipitated between two vast rocky walls to a depth of 200 feet, where they are received into an immense chasm. The lake of Loweswater is about 1 mile in length by a quarter in breadth, and abounds with fish. Lead is obtained in the hills, and the peculiar stone called Lydian stone. The living is a perpetual curacy* in the diocese of Carlisle, value £49. The church, dedicated to St. Bartholomew, is a stone structure built in 1827 on the site of an ancient chapel founded by a prior of St. Bees. The endowments consist of about £12 per annum for school purposes, and other small charities producing about £2. There is a parochial school in the village, and another on the common for boys and girls." "MOCKERKIN, a hamlet in the parochial chapelry of Loweswater, county Cumberland, 5 miles S.W. of Cockermouth. The hamlet forms a constablewick with Sosgill." "SOSGIL, a hamlet in the parochial chapelry of Loweswater, county Cumberland 4 miles S. W. of Cockermouth"

[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868)
Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003]