Kendal tourist information
The completion of the M6 motorway in 1970 made Kendal the gateway to the Lake District. Known as ‘the auld grey town’ because of its many fine old houses and other buildings constructed in grey limestone, Kendal was made a barony by Richard Coeur de Lion in 1189. In 1331 the Flemish established a woollen industry in the town, from which came the town’s motto: ‘Pannus mihi panis’ – wool is my bread. The cloth made here, Kendal Green Cloth, became famous throughout England. The 12th century ruined castle was the home of Catharine Parr, Henry VIII’s sixth and final wife. It stands on a green hill where its overgrown moat and weathered battlements make an impressive sight.
At the south end of Kendal is Abbot Hall, an 18th century mansion houses an art gallery and The Museum of Lakeland Life. This award winning museum gives the visitor an enchanting insight into the life, customs and traditions of people in the Lake District before the region was opened up by the arrival of the railways in the 19th century. Rooms and workshops have been recreated to show how rural people lived and worked. There is a traditional kitchen, including recipes and utensils, a bedroom with spectacular four-poster bed and a farmhouse parlour. Exhibits also include the tools and methods used for farming and mining during Victorian times. During the school holidays, the museum puts on craft demonstrations by local people of traditional Lake District crafts such as spinning, weaving, basket making, carpentry and rag rugging. These demonstrations take place on most Wednesdays. There is a room dedicated to Arthur Ransome who wrote the famous children’s classic, ‘Swallows and Amazons’ and a new display of Fashion Through the Ages, which shows the development of fashion from the eighteenth century to the present day. The museum has partial wheelchair access and is open all year. There is a pay and display car park, gift shop and coffee shop. At the north end of the town is Kendal Museum. Founded in 1796 this is one of the oldest surviving museums in England. It is located in a former wool warehouse and has exceptional displays of archaeology, geology, natural history and local history. There are incredible exhibits of stuffed animals from all over the world, many of which are now extinct, rare or endangered. It also houses one of the largest collections of minerals fro the region as well as a display dedicated to Alfred Wainwright who wrote the famous handwritten guides to the Lake District, ‘Pictorial Guides’ between 1955 and 1966.
For a more active experience the visitor can go pony trekking or hacking at the Holmescales Riding Centre, 5 miles north of Kendal and 5 minutes away from junction 36 on the M6 motorway. This centre offers daily courses for the complete beginner or the more experienced rider in the surrounding beautiful countryside. About one mile from Kendal railway station, at the Lake District Business Park, is the Lakeland Climbing Centre. Here the visitor can learn how to climb on the indoor climbing walls. There are taster sessions as well as beginners and improvers courses/sessions. For those who have completed a beginners indoors course there is the opportunity to climb outdoors with their Moving Out climbing sessions.
There are many lovely river walks by the River Kent. On the south side of this river, about one mile from the town centre is the site of the Roman fort of Alauna. Other interesting walks in the area are along Scout Scar, 2.5 miles north east of Potter Fell, above Burneside village,. The walk is a beautiful wilderness of bracken and heather.
Close to Kendal is Sizergh Castle and Gardens. This beautiful ivy-clad castle began life in the 14th century as a pele tower. Many such structures can still be seen around the districts of Cumberland and Westmorland. They were built originally as defences where people could take shelter from the border clashes that occurred throughout the reign of Edward 1 between Scotland and England. The original building was extended during Tudor times to become a fortified mansion. For the last 750 years it has been the home of the Strickland family. Inside the visitor can see a fine collection of English and French furniture as well as some of the most outstanding examples of Elizabethan carved fireplaces. The garden is stunning and includes a National Trust limestone rock garden that exhibits a superb national collection of hardy Ferns. The castle also has a cafe serving tasty locally produced food and a gift shop.
