Curse
The Drowned Town
Turn away a stranger, lose a town.
See it clearly
- What's there
- A wide quiet lake ringed by fells
- Legend from
- Wensleydale tradition
- Best time
- Still evenings
- Tone
- Haunting
Semerwater rise, Semerwater sink: the curse that drowned a selfish town.
Semerwater is a lake in Raydale, in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Legend says a town once stood where the water now lies. An old homeless man went from door to door begging for food and drink and was turned away at every house, until a poor couple took him in and gave him an oatcake and a drink. The Yorkshire Dales National Park says that as he left he turned into a bright angel and cursed the town: 'Semerwater rise, and Semerwater sink, and swallow the town all save this house.' The lake rose and drowned the town, sparing only the couple. Some say its bell can still be heard.