![[Rock] [Bowder Stone] 1867 Flyer advertising the Bowder Stone - Immense Fragment of Rock](http://www.schubertiademusic.com/cdn/shop/files/FlyeradvertisingtheBowderStone25136.jpg?v=1764018446)
Printed flyer on dark pink paper advertising tours of the large andesite lava boulder in Borrowdale, Cumbria, England. "MARY THOMPSON Begs leave to acquaint the Ladies and Gentlemen visiting...that she continues at the BOWDER STONE HOUSE, and attends on all parties desirous of Seeing and Examining that IMMENSE FRAGMENT OF ROCK SUPPOSED TO BE THE LARGEST IN THE WORLD, AND WHICH RESEMBLES A SHIP LYING UPON ITS KEEL. The Dimensions Are As Follows: Length, 62 feet; Perpendicular Height, 36 feet; Circumference, 89 feet; contains 23,090 solid feet; Weighs 1,971 tons 13 cwts; and is a Basaltic or Porphyritic Greenstone." With handwritten date of July 12, 1867 to the foot and signatures of a visiting party composed of one Jack Kemble, Reverend C. Kemble, Lottie Kemble and Nettie C. Kemble. 9 x 7.5 inches; 23 x 19 cm. Folds, else fine. A most wonderful and strange bit of Victorian ephemera.
Although the stone was visited and admired by many, Joseph Pocklington was the first to take practical steps to attract visitors, purchasing the site in 1798, fencing it off, clearing away all the smaller rocks and erecting 'Bowderstone Cottage' to house a guide and building a ladder to allow visitors to easily reach the top and admire the outstanding views. In 1817 Joseph died and the Bowder Stone was sold, however it continued to be open to all visitors and it continued as a popular tourist venue throughout the Victorian era and well into the early 20th century. Broken only by the presence of John Raven, the role of guide continued being female. Mary Carradus was the guide in the 1830s, succeeded in the 1850s by her daughter who married to become Mary Thompson, acting as a guide for 25 years or more.
A gate had been installed at the bottom of the ladder to ensure that visitors paid a small fee to climb to the top. Various records indicate that the guides were assiduous in their duties, with comments such as "The old dame makes money out of the stone watching for tourists like a spider." A seat for two and standing room for six existed on the summit of the stone.
Printed flyer on dark pink paper advertising tours of the large andesite lava boulder in Borrowdale, Cumbria, England. "MARY THOMPSON Begs leave to acquaint the Ladies and Gentlemen visiting...that she continues at the BOWDER STONE HOUSE, and attends on all parties desirous of Seeing and Examining that IMMENSE FRAGMENT OF ROCK SUPPOSED TO BE THE LARGEST IN THE WORLD, AND WHICH RESEMBLES A SHIP LYING UPON ITS KEEL. The Dimensions Are As Follows: Length, 62 feet; Perpendicular Height, 36 feet; Circumference, 89 feet; contains 23,090 solid feet; Weighs 1,971 tons 13 cwts; and is a Basaltic or Porphyritic Greenstone." With handwritten date of July 12, 1867 to the foot and signatures of a visiting party composed of one Jack Kemble, Reverend C. Kemble, Lottie Kemble and Nettie C. Kemble. 9 x 7.5 inches; 23 x 19 cm. Folds, else fine. A most wonderful and strange bit of Victorian ephemera.
Although the stone was visited and admired by many, Joseph Pocklington was the first to take practical steps to attract visitors, purchasing the site in 1798, fencing it off, clearing away all the smaller rocks and erecting 'Bowderstone Cottage' to house a guide and building a ladder to allow visitors to easily reach the top and admire the outstanding views. In 1817 Joseph died and the Bowder Stone was sold, however it continued to be open to all visitors and it continued as a popular tourist venue throughout the Victorian era and well into the early 20th century. Broken only by the presence of John Raven, the role of guide continued being female. Mary Carradus was the guide in the 1830s, succeeded in the 1850s by her daughter who married to become Mary Thompson, acting as a guide for 25 years or more.
A gate had been installed at the bottom of the ladder to ensure that visitors paid a small fee to climb to the top. Various records indicate that the guides were assiduous in their duties, with comments such as "The old dame makes money out of the stone watching for tourists like a spider." A seat for two and standing room for six existed on the summit of the stone.