The Wombelles

(Kendal & South Lakes Gynaecology Cancer Group)

Newsletter April 2013

Well ladies! We had another pleasant and extremely interesting afternoon visiting the Kendal Museum, and followed by Afternoon Tea at the Castle Dairy. We had a conducted tour by the Curator, who explained that all exhibits had been donated to the Museum and that they required volunteers to assist with everyday chores. (Not sure if I appreciated her offer of doing the dusting as a volunteer though!) I have visited the museum previously for an exhibition on the ‘The Old Yards’ which explained Kendal Town’s historical layout. The following information may be of some interest.

The layout of Kendal town is characterised by the narrow yards and lanes branching from the main street.

Yard 83 – Dr Manning’s Yard

There were once about 150 ‘yards’ in Kendal, often named after the owner of the main house which usually stood at the top of the yard.

A good example is Yard 83 – Dr Manning’s Yard, on the right hand side as you walk up Highgate. The yards on this side of Highgate used to run in parallel lines down to the river where there were factories, weaving shops, dyeing works, and even a windmill (Yard 65 is called Windmill Yard).

Yard 28 – now Wainwright's Yard - newly refurbished in 2006

Further information on The Old Yards can be obtained from:  www.visitcumbria.com

Kendal Museum

Kendal’s first museum was formed in 1796 by William Todhunter who exhibited a collection of fossils, plants, minerals, animals and antiques.

In 1835 the Kendal Literary and Scientific Society took over the museum. 
The society included among its members Dr Thomas Gough, Professor Adam Sedgwick, John Ruthven and Dr John Dalton. As the collection grew, the Museum had to be rehoused several times. 

In the early 1900's money problems forced the sale of some exhibits, the rest were offered to the town. In 1913 the current building – formerly a wool warehouse – was offered to the Town Council for the purposes of housing the museum.

After World War One the collections were moved to the new building and the museum was run by a series of honorary curators on behalf of the Town Council. One of these curators included Alfred Wainwright, the famous guide book author and fell walker, who gave up his spare time for 30 years to look after the collections.

The Museum has several Exhibitions throughout the year.

 ‘The Great Dodo Exhibition’

This is a collection of lifelike reproduction Dodos by Carl Church, International Award Winning Bird Taxidermist. It is the largest gathering of Dodos since they became extinct!

Kendal Museum is first in the world to host this exhibition. It features various adult Dodos in lifelike poses, a Dodo Chick and a dead hanging Dodo. There is information on how these models were created with mould models on display. www.birdtaxidermy.co.uk

We also have a Dodo Skeleton, created by Luke Williams on display. This is made up of casts of genuine bones from three separate Dodos and some substituted bones of birds similar in size to the Dodo.

www.staffordshireskeletons.co.uk

Afternoon Tea at the Castle Dairy

Best described as Kendal's oldest inhabited building, the Castle Dairy is sited on the North side of Wildman Street, near to Stramongate Bridge. It was originally a farm house and would have enjoyed open views towards the River Kent.

The name 'Dairy' is most likely the result of a misspelling in the past, as its true name relates to Dowry, meaning a house where a Dower or a widow would have lived.

Whilst the building started out as a single storey house, it is likely that the extra wings were added when Anthony Garnett took possession of the house in the 1560's. Above the main door, a small date stone can be seen, bearing the initials AG (Anthony Garnett), who owned The Castle Dairy, and a date of 1564.

Legend has it that part of the floor which is collectively made of thousands of worn pieces of stone, is part of the old Roman road that may have run along the banks of the River Kent.

The Castle Dairy is a stunning piece of medieval architecture, in excellent condition, and standing amongst buildings from many periods. It is probably Kendal's only surviving 'true' medieval house.

Afternoon Tea at the Castle Diary was a pleasant way to end our afternoon with delicious Scones, fresh cream and strawberry jam and a good old natter.

We are still looking for other Ladies to join our group and enjoy visiting local places of interest.