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placename:- Black Sail Pass
parish Ennerdale and Kinniside parish, once in Cumberland
county:- Cumbria
parish Nether Wasdale parish, once in Cumberland
pass
coordinates:- NY191114
10Km square:- NY11

1Km square NY1911

photograph

Black Sail Pass -- Ennerdale and Kinniside and Nether Wasdale -- Cumbria / -- 25.6.2009
photograph

Black Sail Pass -- Ennerdale and Kinniside and Nether Wasdale -- Cumbria / -- 17.5.2010

source:- Martineau 1855

Guide book, A Complete Guide to the English Lakes, by Harriet Martineau, published by John Garnett, Windermere, Westmorland, and by Whittaker and Co, London, 1855; published 1855-71.
Page 126:-
... We have mentioned the young man who spent the whole of a previous day in walking round Kirk Fell. Worse happened, in October, 1852, to two gentlemen who went, with a pony, but without a guide, from Buttermere to Wastdale Head, by Scarf Gap and Blacksail. In Ennerdale valley, wind and rain met them. They struggled part of the way along Black-sail, when they became bewildered, and soon so exhausted that they had a narrow escape with their lives. But for a brandy flask, which one of them carried, they could not have survived. The pony seems to have sunk as rapidly as the men. These gentlemen have publicly suggested the erection of some conspicuous landmarks, to show the track; and they have uttered their warning, in corroboration of so many others, against crossing mountains without a guide. One of their chief difficulties was the paths being turned into watercourses, and thereby disguised. It was on the same track that the three Kendal young ladies, mentioned by Mr. Green in his "Guide" (two of whom are still living) lost their way, from dismissing their guide too soon, and actually staid all night on the mountain, where, if it had not been fine summer weather, they would have perished. They took a guide over Scarf Gap, and as far as the junction of the three
Page 127:-
roads from Buttermere, Ennerdale, and Wastdale. The guide left them on the right road, and with full information as to the rest of the way. They took the wrong side of the brook, however, and so got bewildered. It was only four p.m., when the guide left them: but darkness overtook them still wandering. When they came down upon Tyson's house, early in the morning, the family could not believe the story of their descent, so perilous was the way they had come. One of the ladies had, however, lost a pocket-book; and they had seen a dead sheep: and, somebody immediately going up, these incidents were verified; and the adventure of the Kendal ladies remains one of the wonders of the dales.

placename:- Blacksail
person:- mountain guide
date:- 1855
period:- 19th century, late; 1850s

old map:- Garnett 1850s-60s H

Map of the English Lakes, scale about 3.5 miles to 1 inch, published by John Garnett, Windermere, Westmorland, 1850s-60s.
thumbnail GAR2NY11, button to large image
Black Sail
hill hachuring

placename:- Black Sail
date:- 1850=1869
period:- 19th century, late; 1850s; 1860s

descriptive text:- Otley 1823 (5th edn 1834)

Guidebook, Concise Description of the English Lakes, later A Description of the English Lakes, by Jonathan Otley, published by the author, Keswick, Cumberland, by J Richardson, London, and by Arthur Foster, Kirky Lonsdale, Cumbria, 1823 onwards.
image OT01P026, button   goto source.
Page 26:-
... Pedestrians, anxious to explore the inmost recesses of the mountains, may follow the lake [Ennerdale Water] to its head, and after passing the sequestered farm of Gillerthwaite, continue their route four of five miles along the narrow dale, ... and ... turn ... to the right, over the Black Sail, to Wasdale head. This way a horse might be taken, but it would be found more troublesome than useful.

placename:- Black Sail, The
date:- 1823
period:- 19th century, early; 1820s

old print:- MacBride 1922

Wild Lakeland, by MacKenzie MacBride illustrated by Alfred Heaton Cooper, published by Adam and Charles Black, London, 1922-28.
thumbnail MB0131, button to large image
Print, colour, Black Sail Pass, by Alfred Heaton Cooper, published by Adam and Charles Black, 4-6 Soho Square, London, 2nd edn 1928.
Tipped in opposite p.220 in Wild Lakeland by MacKenzie MacBride.
printed at bottom:-
BLACK SAIL PASS
signed at lower right:-
A. HEATON COOPER

placename:- Black Sail Pass
date:- 1922
period:- 1920s

old print:- Jenkinson 1875

Guide book, A Practical Guide to the English Lake District, by Henry Irwin Jenkinson, published by Edward Stanford, 55 Charing Cross, London, 4th edition 1875.
thumbnail Jk01E3, button to large image
Print, lithograph, outline view, Panoramic Sketches from Scawfell Pike, Cumberland, by Edwin A Pettitt, London, published by Edward Stanford, 55 Charing Cross, London, 1875.
... Black Sail Pass ...

placename:- Black Sail Pass
date:- 1875
period:- 19th century, late

photographs
tiny photograph, 
button to large Black Sail Pass -- Ennerdale and Kinniside and Nether Wasdale -- Cumbria / -- A gate, -- NY19161145 (at) -- 4.7.2011

Old Cumbria Gazetteer - JandMN: 2008

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©  Martin and Jean Norgate: 2012
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