Elterwater

Elterwater

Elterwater bridge
Elterwater
Elterwater shown within Cumbria
OS grid reference NY327048
Civil parish
District
Shire county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town AMBLESIDE
Postcode district LA22
Dialling code 015394
Police Cumbria
Fire Cumbria
Ambulance North West
EU Parliament North West England
UK Parliament

Elterwater is a village in the English Lake District and the county of Cumbria. The village lies half a mile (800 m) north-west of the lake of Elter Water, from which it derives its name. Both are situated in the valley of Great Langdale.[1]

In the past, the principal industries have been farming and quarrying, with evidence of both still very visible. In the present day, tourism is the principal source of income.

John Ruskin attempted to set up a lace making industry here and artist Kurt Schwitters was a resident of nearby Chapel Stile, where one of his Merzbarn project was created.

Only a quarter of the houses in Elterwater are permanently occupied, the rest being holiday cottages.[2]

Etymology

" 'The lake frequented by swans', from ON 'elptr'/'alpt' 'swan', in the gen.[itive], sing.[ular] form with '-ar', and 'water', probably replacing ON 'vatn' 'lake'. Whooper swans still winter on the lake".[3](ON is Old Norse).

References

  1. Parker, 2004, page 37
  2. Elterwater - Visit Cumbria
  3. Whaley, Diana (2006). A dictionary of Lake District place-names. Nottingham: English Place-Name Society. pp. lx,423 p.108–109. ISBN 0904889726.

Bibliography

Media related to Elterwater at Wikimedia Commons


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