NOSTALGIA: Famous visitors to Kendal over the centuries

KENDAL has been called ‘the gateway to the Lakes’ and has entertained many visitors over the centuries.

The first known royal visitor was possibly Queen Katherine Parr who, as far as we know, never lived in the town but did visit her aunt, Lady Strickland, at Sizergh Hall and might perhaps have taken a trip to view the castle.

The earliest visitor I have found evidence of, was King James I who, while progressing through his new realm, stayed in Kendal in Brownsword House on the site of the present public library. He declined knighting the burgesses because he was dissatisfied with his hospitality.

When Charles II marched his army into the town before his defeat at Worcester in 1651, a baker named Tyson attempted to assassinate him.

In 1745, Bonnie Prince Charlie stopped off with his army in Kendal on his way to London to claim the crown, sleeping in the house of Mr Justice Shepherd on Stricklandgate (now Charlie’s Cafe).

During a scuffle in the Market Place, one of his horsemen and a farmer were killed, as was a Highlander on Finkle Street. Charlie failed in his attempt and was chased back to Scotland by the Duke of Cumberland (the ‘Butcher’), who slept overnight in the same bed.

The Crown Inn on Far Cross Bank was given his name.

In 1795, William, Duke of Gloucester stayed for three nights in The King’s Arms Inn.

In 1891, Princess Louise, Marchioness of Lorne toured and opened the arts and crafts exhibition in the town hall. We still have a memento of the occasion in the panels of the doors of the building on Sandes Avenue (now an outdoor clothing shop).

It was previously owned by Thompson Brothers, printers and bookbinders, who bought the stonework of the old public library on Market Place and used it to form the facade of new offices. The panels depict books on shelves and were part of their display at the exhibition.

Princess Louise stayed at Levens Hall and was given a guard of honour to the town by the Volunteers. At Miller Bridge, 2,500 schoolchildren sang the National Anthem and there were welcome banners across the street and in shop windows. After examining the exhibits, she went to St. George’s Hall for a performance of ‘A Song of Praise’ and then visited an old people’s tea party in the new market hall.

The Lord Mayor of London came in 1889 to open the new grammar school and again in 1891 to present awards from the arts and crafts exhibition and receive the Freedom of the Borough of Kendal.

1906 saw Princess Helena attend the Mary Wakefield Festival. The Prince of Wales came in 1927 to lay a wreath on the war memorial. He left after only 35 minutes, looking very tired, disappointing the vast crowds.