Crummock Water is a lake in the Lake District in North West England. It is 2.5 miles (4.0 km) long, 0.6 miles (0.97 km) wide, 140 feet (43 m) deep, and has an area of 2.5 square kilometres (0.97 sq mi). The lake's primary inflow is Buttermere Dubs, itself the outflow of Buttermere, and its outflow is the River Cocker, which meets the River Derwent at Cockermouth before entering the Irish Sea at Workington. It is in the unitary authority of Cumberland and the ceremonial county of Cumbria. It is in the parish of Buttermere, and its western shore forms part of the western boundary of the parish.

Crummock Water
Crummock Water from Red Pike
Crummock Water is located in the Lake District
Crummock Water
Crummock Water
Crummock Water is located in the former Allerdale Borough
Crummock Water
Crummock Water
Location in Allerdale, Cumbria
map (1925)
LocationLake District, Cumbria
Coordinates54°33′N 3°18′W / 54.550°N 3.300°W / 54.550; -3.300
TypeRibbon
Primary inflowsButtermere Dubs
Primary outflowsRiver Cocker
Basin countriesUnited Kingdom
Max. length2.5 mi (4.0 km)
Max. width0.6 mi (0.97 km)
Surface area2.57 km2 (0.99 sq mi)
Max. depth140 ft (43 m)
Shore length16.26 mi (10.07 km)
Surface elevation96 m (315 ft)
Islands6
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Geography

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The hill of Mellbreak runs the full length of the lake on its western side; as Alfred Wainwright described it 'no pairing of hill and lake in Lakeland have a closer partnership than these'. The lake is owned by the National Trust.

Scale Force, the highest waterfall in the Lake District, feeds the lake and has a drop of 170 feet (52 m).[1]

Etymology

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"The meaning of 'Crummock' seems to be 'Crooked one', from British" (Brythonic Celtic) "'crumbaco'-'crooked'".[2] This may refer to the winding course of the River Cocker, which flows out of the lake, or refer to the bending nature of the lake itself. The word "'water' is the main Lakeland term for 'lake'".[2]

History

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Water from the lake was treated at Cornhow water treatment works, near Loweswater,[3] and was distributed to the towns of Silloth-on-Solway, Maryport, Workington, and many smaller towns, villages, and hamlets in the surrounding area for drinking and all other uses.[4] This use ceased in October 2022 with the commissioning of the United Utilities pipeline to bring supply from Thirlmere.[5]

Crummock Water gained attention in 1988 when the body of Sheena Owlett was found in the lake. It later transpired she had been murdered in Wetherby, West Yorkshire.[citation needed]

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References

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  1. ^ "Crummock Water". Waterscape.
  2. ^ a b Whaley, Diana (2006). A dictionary of Lake District place-names. Nottingham: English Place-Name Society. pp. lx, 423 p.89. ISBN 0904889726.
  3. ^ "DEFRA - North Cumbria Sporadic Cryptosporidiosis Study" (PDF). Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  4. ^ "Times & Star - Public misled over fluoride in west Cumbrian water". Archived from the original on 24 February 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  5. ^ "Home - West Cumbria Pipeline".
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