KENDAL has many legends attached to its history and one of the most popular is about a young man in the court of King Richard I given the name of Dickie Doodle.
He was a great one with the ladies who fell for his youthful charms, so much so that he became a problem to the King.
Richard wanted money to pay for his crusades and the Baron of Kendal wanted a weekly Market Charter so the King sold him one and in 1189 sent it via Dickie. The journey to Kendal was fraught with danger but if he did not make it another charter could be sent and the King would be rid of a nuisance. However, Dickie arrived safely and stayed at the old Cock and Dolphin Inn, where he got so drunk they put him in the stocks in Kirkland to cool off.
Next day he was chased through the town and across the ford at the bottom of Stramongate where his pursuers stopped in fear of going further. The people both sides of the river hated each other but those on the east bank took Dickie to their hearts, giving him clean clothes.
He sent a ‘postcard’ to the King to say that he had arrived safely and suggested that the area on the east bank of the river should be called Doodleshire after him, where he was made their Mayor.
Well, it’s another good story and Doodleshire remains to this day.
Doodleshire mayor-making was celebrated with sports and drunken revelry until 1827 and has been revived in recent years, keeping the story alive.
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