For most visitors to the
Lake District, Kendal is the gateway to the National Park,
it being the first major town to be met on entering the area
from Junction 36 of the M6 Motorway.
A prosperous
and attractive town of 24,00 people, large by Lake District
standards, it is situated on the River Kent, and has had a
turbulent history which is evident in the structure and layout
of the town.
In the
14th century it became England's principal wool town, from
whence its early prosperity came. Kendal Castle was the birthplace
of Katherine Parr in 1512 - she was to become the last of
King Henry VIII's six wives.
The castle
dominates, standing on a green hill above the town, in perpetual
evidence of its defensive role in more troubled times. This
and the town's many narrow alleys and enclosed courtyards
were so constructed as to maximise defensiveness against the
frequent cross-border raids of Scottish and Pictish tribes
Kendal's
old grey limestone buildings with their grey slate roofs are
architypically Lakeland in character.
Kendal
Castle Aerial Photo Courtesy of www.webbaviation.co.uk
Copyright © 2005.
CLICK
ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE
There
are many fine buildings - the parish church of The Holy Trinity
dates back to the 13th century. Some of the town's other older
buildings are found around the Market Place and in Branthwaite
Brow.
Pleasant
walks may be found at the riverside at Gooseholme and in Abbott
Hall Park. Many Town Trails also exist and there are guides
to these available at the Tourist Information Centre at the
Town Hall in Hillgate.
The Town
Hall is also notable, apart from its fine architecture, for
the collection of paintings by the British artist, George
Romney, who was born in Kendal in 1734. Romney's work can
be found in many British Galleries such as the Tate Gallery
and National Gallery in London, as well as in major galleries
abroad. Worth visiting is the Museum of Lakeland Life and
Industry at Abbott Hall, Kirkland. It has exhibitions and
presentations depicting Lakeland life from the 17th century
to the present day, including local crafts, farming, costume
and furnishing. There are also exhibits of clogs, clocks,
bobbins, and the work of local blacksmiths.
The Museum
of Natural History and Archaeology in Station Road was recently
given the Museum of the Year Award for its outstanding displays
of local and international wildlife, its Wainwright display
and a Nature Trail of Lakeland Life. Much praised by the famous
English botanist, David Bellamy.
There
is also a Golf Driving Range at Oxenholme Road (Tel: 01539-733933)
which is covered for all weathers and floodlit for night practice,
and a major Leisure Centre in Burton Road (Tel: 01539-729777),
which has a large multi-pupose sports hall, 2 swimming pools,
sauna, solarium, hard outdoor play area, fitness rooms, squash
courts and fully licenced bar facilities.
Aerial
Photograph of Kendal courtesy of www.webbaviation.co.uk.
Copyright © 2005.
CLICK
ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE
Contemporary
industries in Kendal include shoe-making, where the famous
Kay's Shoes are made, the production of the local candy Kendal
Mint Cake, snuff making, light engineering, ceramics, and
carpet weaving. Visits to the K Village Factory Shop may be
made at Netherfield in Kendal, which includes purchasing facilities
and demonstrations of the shoe-making process. Open daily,
all year round - admission free.
