LOWESWATER, a chapelry (parochial) in ALLERDALE
ward above Darwent, county of CUMBERLAND,
7 miles (S. by E.) from Cockermouth, containing, with
Mockerkin, 440 inhabitants. The living is a perpetual
curacy, in the archdeaconry of Richmond, and diocese
of Chester, endowed with £200 private benefaction,
£800 royal bounty, and £200 parliamentary grant,
and in the patronage of the Earl of Lonsdale. The
church was erected by subscription among the inhabitants,
in 1827, on the site of an ancient chapel founded
by a prior of St. Bees, to which parish this was formerly
a chapelry, and it still pays a small annual tribute
to the mother church. The river Cocker runs through
this deep and extensive vale, -which is bounded by loity
mountains, and contains the picturesque lake of Lows-
water, part of Crummock lake, and Scale force, the last
the most stupendous cataract in this celebrated region,
the water of which, falling to the depth of one hundred
and fifty-six feet, sinks into a great chasm surrounded
by rocks overhung with trees, and profusely fringed with
a variety of smaller shrubs. A lead mine has lately
been opened here. On a hill near the village of Mockerkin
a school-room was erected in 1781, and endowed
by Mary Mirehouse with £ 200.