Kendal Civic Society Achievement

Collin Croft. The history of the buildings which make up Collin Croft can be traced back to 1727. In 1977 the Trust bought a group of them, some with walls fallen down, roofs collapsed or propped up with corrugated iron. Under the direction of Society member and architect, Michael Bottomlry and with grants from the Architectural Heritage Fund and others, the buildings were renovated to form seven dwellings, a queue of over 100 people forming to buy them when they came onto the market. The scheme won national acclaim in the architectural and conservation press. Pembroke House in Kirkland, one of Kendal’s very few cruck-built houses, has also been rescued, creating two more dwellings. Both Collin Croft and Pembroke House received Civic Trust Awards. Dockwray Bridge An iron suspension footbridge on Romney Road over the River Kent was destined for the scrapyard when a traffic bridge was planned to replace it. The Society’s Building Preservation Trust contributed a large sum of money towards having it re-erected in a new position higher upstream where it now provides safe access to the schools on the east side of the river from a residential area on the west side. Children previously took a short cut along a busy railway line. The Shakespeare Theatre The near-derelict former Shakespeare Theatre (built in 1828) was re-opened in 1995 as a church and community centre. With its Georgian front restored, it once more forms an elegant end-point to the view from Highgate. The Society’s role was to get the building into the hands of owners who would carry out the conversion to an agreed plan. Anchorite Well This holy well, of great importance in Kendal’s early history, is located in the garden of a private house on Kirkbarrow. Neglected for many years its renovation was funded by the Society. The Miles Thompson Finial In 1870 Robert Thompson, built No 21 Beast Banks. On the front gable he erected as a finial a figure of his architect brother, Miles Thompson, a partner in the Webster practice and Robert’s early benefactor. When, in 1998, the figure blew down the Society replaced it with a terra-cotta copy. Kendal Castle The Society is strongly represented on the committee which advises the District Council, owners of the Castle Hill and the castle ruins, on their management. A National Lottery grant enabled major work to be done on the archaeology of the site; the stabilisation of the ruins; ecological management of Castle Hill; and the preparation of educational material. Besides a considerable manpower input, the Society made a substantial contribution to the costs and remains actively involved with the project. Lancaster - Kendal Canal Restoration The Society is an active participant in the District Council’s Advisory Group promoting the scheme, which seeks to re-open the canal which has been closed for many years. In collaboration with SLDC, British Waterways and other partners, the Society successfully applied for a Heritage Lottery Fund grant. This has been used to restore Change Bridge where the barge horses crossed from one side of the canal to the other. The restored canal, due for completion in about five years time will be a major addition to Kendal’s amenities. Serpentine Woods Summerhouse This charming Victorian summerhouse vandalised over many years has been restored several times. In 1998 a permanent display was mounted in it on the history and ecology of the woods and the vandalism has ceased. Plaques Over the last decade more than 40 have been placed on buildings throughout the town centre. Traffic The traffic scheme proposed by Cumbria County Council in 1993 was successfully opposed by the Society, on the grounds that traffic was eased in Stricklandgate only at the price of increased congestion elsewhere, and more through-traffic on residential roads. A Traffic Steering Group involving representatives of local organisations then produced a new scheme. It seeks to reduce traffic entering the town by promoting bus travel and park-and-ride schemes. Overall, the Society supports it. Part of the scheme has been implemented and is now being evaluated. Publications The Society has published four books on Kendal history, and two editions of “Walks Around Kendal” and has subsidised three leaflets on Kendal architects plus two ‘guided walk’ leaflets, on sale at the Tourist Information Centre. A substantial book, ‘Kendal’s Canal’ – ‘History, Industrial and People’, published by the Society in 2001 has proved unexpectedly popular and has been reprinted. Planning Matters The Society monitors all planning applications for Kendal, concentrating on those which concern buildings in the Conservation Area. Recommendations are regularly made to the SLDC Planning Dept. Members Events The main thrust of the Society’s work is towards improving Kendal’s amenities but a lecture of outstanding quality always accompanies our AGM, All the Society’s affairs are open to discussion at an annual ’Members Evening’. There are at least two outings annually.