Kendal Civic Society

Those present when the plaques were being installed had the opportunity to see the slate panel on the old Valve House at the foot of the spillway. This is built in to the gable end of the little building and consists of a dedication in lead letters on slate with a Kendal coat of arms, all very worn and faded and deteriorating quickly.  The plaque is of grey sandstone, now weathered, with lead lettering and a Kendal coat of arms inset, dating from 1895 to commemorate the opening of the reservoir.  Water was getting behind the sandstone which already had a hairline crack.  Expert opinion was that it should be cleaned it in situ to reduce damage. United Utilities who were going to point the whole building anyway to make it water-tight, pointed round the plaque to stop further water damage and agreed to pay for cleaning the plaque to, hopefully, preserve it for another century or so, just as it is now. Yet another tiny piece of Kendal’s history preserved.

Presentations are given at intervals in the Mayors Parlour and it has been suggested that, following the success of the Kendal Pattern Book exhibition a waistcoat could be woven from one of the patterns. The ladies from the ‘Lancs & Lakes Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers’, who had done so much to bring the Kendal Pattern Book to life for the exhibition, were keen to weave the Kendal Green cloth and make a waistcoat.  Unfortunately the money to pay for it had run out so the Civic Society has agreed to fund it and then place it on a permanent loan to the Town Council. It was decided, however, that any waistcoat must be in a pattern from the Pattern Book and there was no Kendal Green (the original colour proposed) in it.

Two of Kendal's memorial stones in Nobles Rest and at an exit to Serpentine Woods to Darwin Leighton have become very difficult to read. The latter just needed cleaning and the small sum required was found to have that carried out.

The stone in Nobles Rest required the letters repainting but SLDC agreed to pay for that as there was a capital fund for that type of work. Both are now looking very smart.

These no longer provide a view of Langdale Pikes since they were moved during repair works.  We continue to press for their re-alignment.  In the meantime, members are encouraged to push the Pizza Express outdoor furniture behind the line of metal studs, each time they pass!