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Semerwater
Image of an upland lake surrounded by fields and limestone hills
Semerwater
Relief map of North Yorkshire showing the location of the reservoir
Relief map of North Yorkshire showing the location of the reservoir
Semerwater
Location in North Yorkshire
Location Yorkshire Dales, England
Coordinates 54°16′50″N 2°7′30″W / 54.28056°N 2.12500°W / 54.28056; -2.12500
Basin countries United Kingdom
Max. length 880 yards (800 m)
Surface area 71 acres (28.6 ha)
Shore length1 1.4 miles (2.3 km)
Surface elevation 807 feet (246 m)
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Semerwater is the second largest natural lake in North Yorkshire, England, after Malham Tarn. It is half a mile (800 m) long, covers 100 acres (0.40 km2) and lies in Raydale, opposite 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:

  • Stalling Busk
  • Countersett
  • Marsett

Semerwater was the subject of a number of sketches and paintings by the artist J M W Turner.

Semerwater is a pleonastic place name. The name, first recorded in 1153, derives from the Old English elements sæ 'lake', mere 'lake' and water. The form "Lake Semerwater" introduces a fourth element with the same meaning.

The lake is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, first notified in 1975.

Legend

According to an old legend, Semerwater was once 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.

An alternative version as told by locals:

Semerwater rise, Semerwater sink,

drown all the people In the village

except for this house which gave me meat.

And as soon as this was said, the waters of the lake rose up and flooded the village, drowning the proud inhabitants and leaving only the hovel of the poor couple on the hillside unscathed.

The legend was the subject of a poem, The Ballad of Semerwater, by Sir William Watson.

Images for kids

  • Ordnance Survey Sheet SD 98 Stalling Busk Published 1960

    Semerwater and surrounding area shown on an OS map, 1960 (scale of 1:25,000)

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