Semerwater

Semerwater

Infobox lake
lake_name = Semerwater
image_lake = Semerwater 1.jpg
caption_lake =
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location = Yorkshire Dales, England
coords = coord|54|16|50|N|2|7|30|W|type:waterbody_region:GB|display=inline,title
type =
inflow =
outflow =
catchment =
basin_countries = United Kingdom
length = 800m
width =
area =
depth =
max-depth =
volume =
residence_time =
shore =
elevation =
islands =
cities =

Semerwater is the largest natural lake in North Yorkshire, England. It is half a mile (800 m) long and at the bottom tip of Wensleydale, opposite England's shortest river the River Bain. Cars can park for a fee and the lake attracts canoers, windsurfers, yachtsmen and fishermen. There are three small settlements nearby:
*Stalling Busk
*Countersett
*Marsett

The Legend

Semerwater is the setting for a well-known legend within Yorkshire. According to the tale, long ago the spot was occupied by a prosperous city. One night an old man (or in some versions, an angel in disguise) came down to the city, in search of food and drink. He went from door to door, and at each house he was turned away. Finally, he came to the hovel of a poor couple just outside the town; the couple took him in and treated him with great kindness.

When the stranger was about to leave, he turned to face the town and uttered the curse:

"Semerwater rise, and Semerwater sink,And swallow the town all save this house, Where they gave me food and drink."

And as soon as this was said, the waters of the lake rose up and flooded the city, drowning the proud inhabitants and leaving only the hovel of the poor couple on the hillside unscathed.

ources

[http://www.britannia.com/history/legend/collection/legcol35.html The Legend of Semerwater]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Semerwater —    , Simmerwater    A lake called Semer or Simmer Water near Askrigg (North Yorkshire) is said to cover the site of a lost village, submerged as a *judgement on the wickedness of the inhabitants, according to a tale first recorded in the 19th… …   A Dictionary of English folklore

  • Craven — For other uses, see Craven (disambiguation). Craven   District   View of south Settle from Castlebergh …   Wikipedia

  • List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in North Yorkshire — This is a list of the Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in North Yorkshire. Note that Natural England, the designating body for SSSIs in England, uses the 1974–1996 county system, and this list follows the same approach, rather than,… …   Wikipedia

  • River Bain, North Yorkshire — Infobox River | river name = River Bain caption = origin = Semerwater mouth = River Ure (at Bainbridge) basin countries = England length = elevation = discharge = watershed = The River Bain is a river in North Yorkshire, England. It is around two …   Wikipedia

  • List of lakes in England — This is a list of lakes and reservoirs in England. Largest lakes and reservoirs LakeArea (sq mi)1Windermere5.692Kielder Reservoir3.863Ullswater3.444Bassenthwaite Lake2.065Derwent Water2.06 Lakes larger than 5 hectares This list is restricted to… …   Wikipedia

  • judgements and Providence —    Belief in God s judgements dramatic calamities sent to punish sinful individuals or communities, and to warn others which was prominent from medieval till Victorian times, has shaped much folklore (Thomas, 1971: 79 112, 472 3). It is obvious… …   A Dictionary of English folklore

  • origin stories —    For centuries, there have been folktales which set out to explain how a custom began, why a *place name was given, how some feature of the landscape was formed, why an animal, bird, or plant has certain characteristics. They not only explain,… …   A Dictionary of English folklore

  • Simmerwater —    see Semerwater …   A Dictionary of English folklore

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”