Weir And Cascade At Outlet From The Lake With Flanking Wall And Ford

The weir and cascade at the outlet from the lake, with flanking walls and a ford, were built around 1720 by mason John Simpson for John Aislabie. Constructed from gritstone, the ford features stone setts, while the weir and flanking walls are made of large blocks. The ford is approximately 3 metres wide, and the weir stands about 3 metres high. The flanking walls include segmental-arched sluice outlets. The River Skell flows from the lake over the ford and descends into its natural bed, continuing on a winding path through the valley known as Seven Bridge Walk. The lake is largely man-made, and the weir marks the northern boundary of Aislabie's designed garden. Below the weir, the landscape's natural features take precedence. The ford once supported a carriage drive that encircled the lake and extended down the stream through Mackershaw Wood. At that time, it was not possible to cross the River Skell on foot between the Rustic Bridge and Seven Bridges Walk.