AMBLESIDE, a market-town and chapelry (parochial), partly in
the parish of WINDERMERE, but chiefly in the parish of
GRASMERE, KENDAL ward, county of WESTMORLAND, 25 miles (W. S.
W.) from Appleby, and 274 (N. W. by N.) from London,
containing 838 inhabitants. The name, anciently written
Hamelside, is probably derived from the Saxon Hamol,
signifying a sheltered habitation. The town is situated near
the site of a Roman station of considerable extent, supposed
by Horsley to have been the Dictis of the Notitia: the
earthworks of the fortress remain, and various Roman relics
and foundations of buildings have been discovered. It stands
on the acclivity of a steep eminence near the northern
extremity of the lake Windermere, in a district pre-eminently
distinguished for the beauty of its scenery, and consists
chiefly of one street, lighted with oil, but not paved; the
houses, though detached and irregular, are well built. There
are a few manufactories for linsey-woolsey. The market,
granted in 1650 to the celebrated Countess of Pembroke, is on
Wednesday: fairs are held on Whit-Wednesday and the 13th and
29th of October, to which a court of pie-powder is attached:
the market-house was built about the year 1796, on the site of
the former. The inhabitants received a charter in the reign of
Charles II., under the authority of which they elect a mayor
annually on Christmas-eve, but he does not possess magisterial
authority, the town being entirely within the jurisdiction of
the county magistrates, who hold a petty session monthly. The
living is a perpetual curacy, in the archdeaconry of Richmond,
and diocese of Chester, endowed with £200 private benefaction,
£400 royal bounty, and £600 parliamentary grant, and in the
patronage of Lady Fleming. The chapel, situated in that part
of the town which is in the parish of Grassmere, was rebuilt
in 1812, and exhibits some portions of ancient architecture,
with many modern insertions: it was made parochial by the
Bishop of Chester, in 1675. The free grammar school was
founded and endowed by John Kelsick, in 1721 j the annual
income is about £127, which, deducting £20 for taxes, is paid
to the master, who has also a house rent-free. Two Sunday
schools are supported by subscription. A little below the town
is the beautiful waterfall called Stockgill Force. Bernard
Gilpin, surnamed " The Northern Apostle," was born at
Kentmere, and Judge Wilson at Troutbeck, near this town.