Gray's Journal Entry: ‘Ambleside is situated on the swift decline of a hill, over which many high mountains rise towards the north. In Camden’s time, various ruins of the ancient Amboglana of the Romans were to be seen here. Near the head of Windermere, and at a little distance from the point where this view was taken, is the vestige of a Roman station. It lies in a meadow on a level with the lake, and as supposed, was called the Dictis, where part of the cohort of the numerous Nerviorum Dictentium was stationed. The extent of the fortress, as he gives dimensions, was one hundred and thirty-two ells in length and eighty in breadth. In form an oblong square with obtuse angles. It is placed near the meeting of all the roads from Penrith, Keswick, Ravensglass, Furness and Kendal, which it commanded, and was accessible only on one side. Roman bricks, urns, and other earthern vessels, coins, mill-stones or quern-stones, as he calls them, were frequently found here. The natural beauties of this part of the country are of very superior order. It would scarcely be partial to say that a greater variety of romantic and picturesque scenery is to be found in the neighbourhood of Ambleside, than can be met in any other part of this interesting country within the same compass.’