This year, your Society has been as active as ever, as the following resume will show.
Our biggest commitment in time at the moment is our promotion of the restoration and interpretation of the Greenside Limekiln. Although there is nothing to show for it on the ground yet, we are co-operating with SLDC in a bid for a substantial grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Success depends upon submitting a convincing prospect of both the structural and the audience participation aspects of the scheme being viable and worthwhile. When I say that the time and expenses of the Society’s contribution, if accepted, has been valued at over £18,000, you will see the extent of our conviction of the value of the scheme to Kendal.
Our members have also made representations to government bodies regarding revision of regulations for planning permission and tree preservation orders.
Another scheme, for which the Society is to work under licence from SLDC, is the restoration of the summerhouse in Serpentine Woods. This is a “stitch in time saves nine” situation to cure problems in the roof. Unfortunately, its cliff-top position presents scaffolding problems in this safety-conscious age. However we have been helped by a £7000 grant from the Gannet Foundation, a Westmorland Gazette Charity, and £1000 from the Neighbourhood Forum.
Not all our attempts are so successful. We made every effort to achieve the restoration and preservation of the old Coal Wharf adjoining the canal Change Bridge. However, we lacked support from British Waterways and others. Sheltered housing is to be built on this historic site.
The Council of the Society has spent a lot of time and effort on the design of the Somervell Steps – a small garden area adjoining the Waterside walk – on behalf of the Town Council. This is to be made with selected stonework from the old K factory site, to commemorate Kendal’s past main industry. It is a disappointment that our efforts were not acknowledged in a recent report in the Citizen.
Several of our members have been volunteers supporting the work of Kendal Museum. Over 2500 visitors have been to see the recent Canal Exhibition. It is sad that most of the Museum’s activities and collections will be lost when Kendal College developments take over most of the site, desirable as they may be.
We have achieved an inclusion of the old industrial Canal Head area into the town conservation area. However, we are concerned for the future of the facade of the old terminal building, now Gilkes, the ticket office and the nearby iron foundry, threatened by development proposals. At the time of writing, further public consultation is expected. We are hoping for a greater water space and for preservation of the nearby recreation area in the Town Field.
We have maintained quarterly meetings with SLDC to reduce the litter problems. Your Council has had a very fruitful talk with Andrew Roe, Development Manager of SLDC and hope to promote his idea of annual Civic Awards for works which enhance the town. We have participated again in promoting the Kendal in Bloom displays with the Town Council. After our success in Parkside Road, through the help of John Nelson, we have been able to restore other old signposts in Beezon Road, Kentrigg and Carus Green. The Brewery have accepted care of the Leyland Clock, which is to be restored by The Cumbria Steam and Vintage Vehicle Society, after our initial efforts to get this work done.
The Society’s visit to Saddleworth at the invitation of their Civic Society was a great success, thanks to our hosts. The bus was full.
We are grateful to Bob Young for the excellent work on the cobbles at the top of Collin Croft, paid for by National Grid; also to Norman Holloway for undertaking our rolling programme of repainting the Civic Society plaques as the need becomes evident. New plaques have been placed on the URC Church and Oddfellows Hall.
Some of our members have taken the opportunity to make pre-demolition inspections and photograph certain old buildings before development.
I would like particularly to acknowledge the work of Trevor Hughes, who does all the Society’s printing including our excellent magazine, and who, with Patricia Hovey, leads the popular series of walks around the town throughout the year. We must also thank Kevin Cook, of Stables, Thompson & Briscoe for acting as independent examiner of our accounts. Kevin has had to relinquish this role due to ill health, but we offer our sincere thanks and best wishes for a full recovery,
Stephen K. Appleby (Chairman)
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