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February 2001 West Vancouver Historical Society Page 7 AMBLESIDE By: Peter Hall The recent "History-Onics" articles on Dundarave reminded Director Ian Macdonald of a visit to the namesake of another West Vancouver neighbourhood - Ambleside, in the Lake District of England Is there a connection? Read on. West Vancouver's neighbourhoods have taken their names from a variety of sources, including people, places and features. One such is Ambleside. Our Honourary Archivist, Rupert Harison, researched the origin of the name and wrote the following, which is now in the West Vancouvr Museum and Archives. "Name suggested by Mr Morris Williams who became a resident in 1910. He was bom in North Wales and later lived in Ambleside, Westmoreland, England. When the Pacific Great Eastern Railway began operating a passenger service in 1914 several parts of West Vancouver had already been named and those names were adopted for some of the stations. But the general description of the area east and west of 14th Street was usually the official designation as shown on the records of the Land Registry Office - District Lot 237 New Westminster District, contracted to *DL 237'. Suggestions were invited from residents and Mr Williams offered 'Ambleside', as it reminded him so much of the town he had grown up in." The Ambleside so fondly remembered by Mr Williams is still a deUghtful small town in England's Lake District. This town of under 3000 residents is situated in the Rothay Valley, a mile north of the head of Lake Windermere. The locals are not bashful in extolling its many virtues, witness the following from a local publication: "One of the most popular towns in the Lake District, and with good reaason, Ambleside is unquestionably a town you must visit and enjoy. Charming side streets reveal the picturesque vernacular architecture of the area, so much more pleasing and characterful than the grander styles of the average European city. There are, of course, some find pubs and restaurants. ” The town's most famous building is Bridge House, which actually is built over a brook -Stock Beck, on Rydal Road. Our photo of this house was taken by Ian Macdonald on a visit in 1982. While legend has it that a canny Scot built it over the Beck to avoid the Land Tax, it was used as an apple storing house in the days when that part of town was an orchard. If the Ambleside we know is named after the English one, where did the name 'Ambleside' originate? There are remains of a Roman camp nearby and the to,wn received its charter in 1650, so it is certainly old. According to TheGood Guide To the Lakes', "The name itself comes from the old Norse for riverside pastures and the town has a long history due to its position at the crossing of many old pack-horse routes." So our Ambleside bears a very old name indeed. Bridge House, Ambleside Photo: Ian Macdonald