Semer Water
Encyclopedia
Semerwater is the largest natural lake in North Yorkshire
, England
. It is half a mile (800 m) long, covers 100 acre (0.404686 km²) and lies at the heart of Raydale, opposite England's shortest river the River Bain
. A private pay and display parking area is at the foot of the lake.
Semerwater attracts canoers, windsurfers, yachtsmen and fishermen. There are three small settlements nearby:
When the stranger was about to leave, he turned to face the town and uttered the curse:
"Semerwater rise, and Semerwater sink,
And swallow the town all save this house,
Where they gave me food and drink."
And as soon as this was said, the waters of the lake rose up and flooded the city, drowning the proud inhabitants and leaving only the hovel of the poor couple on the hillside unscathed.
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is half a mile (800 m) long, covers 100 acre (0.404686 km²) and lies at the heart of Raydale, opposite England's shortest river the River Bain
River Bain, North Yorkshire
The River Bain is a river in North Yorkshire, England. It is designated legally as a Main River, so at around two and a half miles long is reputed to be the shortest river in England...
. A private pay and display parking area is at the foot of the lake.
Semerwater attracts canoers, windsurfers, yachtsmen and fishermen. There are three small settlements nearby:
- Stalling BuskStalling BuskStalling Busk is one of 3 settlements based around Semer Water in the Richmondshire district of North Yorkshire in the small dale of Raydale just off from Wensleydale, England...
- CountersettCountersettCountersett is the largest of the three settlements based around Semer Water in the Richmondshire district of North Yorkshire, England. It is in the Yorkshire Dales to the north of the lake. The Boar East and West were once one farm, and before that a pub called The Boar Inn...
- MarsettMarsettMarsett is one of 3 settlements based around Semer Water in the Richmondshire district of North Yorkshire, England. Marsett is only a hamlet though and lies to the south west of the lake....
The Legend
Semerwater is the setting for a well-known legend within Yorkshire. According to the tale, long ago the spot was occupied by a prosperous city. One night an old man (or in some versions, an angel in disguise) came down to the city, in search of food and drink. He went from door to door, and at each house he was turned away. Finally, he came to the hovel of a poor couple just outside the town; the couple took him in and treated him with great kindness.When the stranger was about to leave, he turned to face the town and uttered the curse:
"Semerwater rise, and Semerwater sink,
And swallow the town all save this house,
Where they gave me food and drink."
And as soon as this was said, the waters of the lake rose up and flooded the city, drowning the proud inhabitants and leaving only the hovel of the poor couple on the hillside unscathed.