Thursday 12 April 2012

Kendal - Gateway to the Lakes

Although Kendal is ‘officially’ south of the Lake District, I’m including it here because it’s known as the ‘Gateway to the Lakes’ as it’s only about 10 miles from Windermere.

It’s a small town, with the River Kent running through the middle, and has a population of about 28,000. It boasts a good selection of shops, restaurants and pubs, and a large Arts Centre (offering cinema, theatre, concerts and exhibitions). It also has the remains of two castles, dating from the 11th and 12th centuries, as well as Cumbria’s largest parish church, Holy Trinity, which is mainly from the 18th century, although the original church was built in the 13th century. The present church, with its five aisles, is only a few feet narrower than York Minster.

 In the past, Kendal was an important centre of trade, particularly for wool. The town’s motto Pannus mihi panis meaning ‘Wool is my bread’ indicates this link to the wool trade. There was also a large shoe factory here until ‘K Shoes’ ceased to trade about ten years ago. Kendal’s most famous export today is ‘Kendal Mint Cake’ – the high energy bars used, not just by Lake District walkers and climbers, but even by Everest explorers.

Most of the house are built of local stone and some are whitewashed. There used to be about 150 ‘yards’ in Kendal, often named after the owner of the most important house at the top of the yard. The yards used to run down towards the river where there were weaving and dyeing workshops.

The oldest surviving inn, dating from 1654, is the Fleece Inn, originally called the Golden Fleece, and another reminder of Kendal’s link to the woollen industry. It’s a timber-framed building and the first floor juts out above the ground floor and is supported by pillars.

The oldest inhabited building is the town is the Castle Dairy which dates from the early part of the 14th century and was originally a farmhouse. Upstairs, one of the bedrooms has the smallest window in the town. You can just make it out in this photo (at the side of the chimney). The floor in what is now the south west wing is said to be part of a Roman road which ran along the River Kent.
One of the most famous residents of Kendal was Alfred Wainwright, Borough Treasurer of the town for many years, who wrote and illustrated many guidebooks to the Lake District in his own inimitable style. My old copies of these are VERY well-worn!

25 comments:

  1. I'm not sure I see the window--but would love to visit that old building!!

    Another wonderful post!!

    Cheers, Jenn
    http://www.wine-n-chat.com

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  2. Thanks, Jenn. The window is a little black speck just under the eaves of the roof, next to the chimney.

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  3. WOW what a quaint place...and i love how you take us on the journey; place i would never know otherwise!

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  4. Love the buildings, very pretty!

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  5. Unlike so many, I've never had any desire for a brand new house. I like old buildings, rich with history and character.

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  6. I so want to go visit. How charming.

    I hope you're enjoying the Challenge!

    KarenG
    A to Z Challenge Host

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  7. Another lovely quick trip to the Lake District. You are wearing me out with all these tours! But I'm loving it.

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  8. That's such a quaint place, full of history. Need to take a real tour one of these days!

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  9. this is why travels enjoy experiences places that you are beautifully displaying... it is so different (from where i am from, that's for sure).... i wish i could crawl in and and stroll....

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  10. wow those are beautiful pictures. I'd love to visit Kendal one day
    Nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com
    Just A-Zing around!

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  11. DH has been there, but I have not, always been on my 'palce to visit list' but don't know why we never made it yet. Love the pics.

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  12. Hi, Paula!

    Thank you for the history lesson! Looks like a great place to visit!

    I see the little window!

    Great photo shots!

    Gateway to the lakes- sounds intriquing!

    http://bettyalark.blogspot.com/

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  13. Many thanks for all your comments. I'm so pleased you're enjoying my 'tour'. I'd never thought of Kendal being 'quaint' although I suppose some parts of it could be so described!

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  14. I especially love the last buildong, the 14th century farmhouse. I love old buildings..weird..haha Kenndal looks like a wonderful place.

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  15. Hi Paula. Another beautiful place to put on my list.

    Denise

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  16. Everytime I read your posts, I get this yearning in my belly to travel.

    --Damyanti, Co-host A to Z Challenge April 2012

    Twitter: @AprilA2Z
    #atozchallenge

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  17. Love the quaintness and history.

    Catch My Words
    http://joycelansky.blogspot.com/

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  18. I love thinking about the age of buildings in Europe compared to here in the US. Very humbling.

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  19. I enjoy seeing photos of different places, and especially older architecture. Thanks for sharing.

    I'm now following.

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  21. The town looks so much cooler than the places we have here in the states. I love it!!

    Kathy
    http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com

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  22. Thank you all for your comments, I'm so glad you're enjoying this tour of the Lake District. We have so many old buildings that we do tend to take them for granted!

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  23. Kendal, river Kent. Is Kendal a derivative of the name?

    I always loved the idea of The Golden Fleece from the Greek myths, but it seems in Kent, it was more than myth; a true source of prosperity.

    Smart of them to figure out, everybody's got to eat, sleep, and be clothed. Interesting that the area is the source of the "Kent Mint Cakes" today, though I would wager few of the ingredients actually come from Kent.

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  24. Beverley, the name Kendal means 'in the dale i.e. valley of the River Kent' but that's a different Kent from the county in SE England.

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