Watermillock is situated on the north side of Ullswater some seven miles south-west of Penrith, and a mile or so from Pooley bridge. Just out of sight is an impressive new church of dark slate, built to give the appearance of dry-stone walling, and is the work of local craftsmen. One attractive window shows the scene of Paul's conversion and in another he is preaching at Athens. The font keeps in rememberance five small children from this neighbourhood.
In 1891 the community as it was then was able to boast various trades operating in the parish along with two schools, a post office, two pubs and 46 farms. The last 100 years have seen so many changes throughout the country, and nothing like this amount of activity exists today.
In the early years a great deal of the higher land was forest and deer park, no doubt popular with visiting royalty. Substantial stone walls...the 'fell' or 'moor'dyke, often as high as 5 feet high generally marked the boundary between farmland and waste. The tenants until quite recently had certain privileges...for example, 'green hue' and 'fern bound' cutting brushwood as winter feed for cattle, and bracken for bedding or thatching. The forest was actualy enclosed in 1816 with some two thirds being converted to farmland, and the remainder left for the wild red deer. These days roe deer, badgers, foxes, buzzards, hawks, and herons roam free making it a naturalist's paradise.
Near the lakeside road stands Watermillock House, built in the late 17th century, with interesting mullioned windows and across the water one sees the long ridge of the Roman Road, High Street.
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