Gray's Journal Entry: ‘The village of Patterdale is situated near the head of Ullswater. It lies in a cove of mountains open in front to the southern reach of the lake. The building that forms the principal object in this view we have called the Palace of Patterdale, leaving the nature of its claim to that appellation to be explained by the following passage in Mr Gilpin’s Observations on the Mountains and Lakes of Cumberland and Westmorland. “Among the cottages of this village, there is a house, belonging to a person of somewhat better condition; whose little estate, which he occupies himself, lies in the neighbourhood. As his property, inconsiderable as it is, is better than that of any of his neighbours, it has gained him the title of King of Patterdale, in which his family name is lost. His ancestors have long enjoyed the title before him. We had the honour of seeing this prince, as he took the diversion of fishing on the lake; and I could not help thinking, that if I were inclined to envy the situation of any potentate of Europe, it would be that of the King of Patterdale. The pride of Windsor or Versailles would shrink in a comparison with the magnificence of his Dominions.”’