The Carnegie Library in Kendal

Fig: Main Entrance to Kendal Library.

The Opening Times for the Library are listed below:-

Monday 09.30 to 19.00

Tuesday 09.30 to 17.00

Wednesday 09.30 to 19.00

Thursday 09.30 to 12.00 (noon)

Friday 09.30 to 17.00

Saturday 09.30 to 15.30

Sunday 12.00 to 16.00

Membership of the Library is free, but you will be required to provide proof of identification to avail yourself of all the libraries services

On online application form is available and can be located at

Cumbria County Council Library Service Website

The Library was opened in 1909 and replaced the Old Town Library which was situated in the Market Place. The Library is named after Andrew Carnegie who was an American Millionaire of Scottish Decent who made his fortune in Oil, Iron & Steel, and Railway Sleeping Cars. He started his working life as a "Bobbin" boy at the age of 13, becoming a Telegraph boy at 14 earning $2.50 per week and went on to amass a vast fortune.

He used this fortune for the betterment of mankind and endowed many libraries in the USA, Cananda, UK including Kendal Library and other English Speaking countries.

In addition to the supurb lending library, Kendal library has a fine reference section , local history section, I.T Section and boasts video (dvd) , audio, and music libraries.

It is well worth a visit even if only to wile away a wet afternoon -but I think you'll be back.

The River Kent (Town Centre Views)and Bridge Mills

The River Kent taken from Stramongate Bridge

Looking towards Goose Holme

with Ruins of Kendal Castle in the Distance

A similar view to the above,

but the white building in the centre of the photo

was part of Kendal High School for Girls.

Another view from Stramongate Bridge

looking up the river to Victoria Bridge

with the office block that replaced Bridge Mills

on the left bank of the river.

Bridge Mills was the main Knitting Factory

for E.W. Thompson's better known locally as "K" Socks.

K Socks employed over 400 people at four factories

in the area, two in Kendal and two in Kirkby Stephen, and

was one of Kendal's largest employers for many years.

In the 1970s it was supplying to many of the leading retail companies in the UK

including Marks and Spencer, and Woolworths

The Managing Director at this time was Alan Collison

(whose office was in the Sandes Ave site) and

Alan Oates (whose office was in Bridge Mills)was the Production Director.

Located close to the Town Hall this view shows the yard leading to the South Lakeland District Council Offices. (health and Safety) -- we now have the new addition of a hand rail

This view shows a yard further up from the Town Hall thta also connects to the SLDC offices

The Fleece Inn Yard

One of the "Newer" yards "Wainwright Yard"

Home of the Westmorland Gazette Offices as well as a wide variety of shops including

Hadwins Electrical an old established Kendal business,

and Booths Supermarket.

The yard leads through to Lower Fellside close to

the Quiggins Kendal Mint Cake Factory.

This picture was taken close to the entrance opposite

the Market Place.

Kendal was honeycombed with yards in the past, but many were destroyed in a bid to "upgrade" the town centre in the 1970s, but some survive to this day and many are well

worth a visit. The picture above shows Yard 51 in Stramongate, one of the smaller yards,

but quite pretty thanks to the efforts of the residents in the three houses that form the top part of the yard .

KENDAL A TOWN OF YARDS

WELCOME TO MY KENDAL TOWN BLOG

Thanks for stopping bye.

I hope to provide an insight into Kendal both for visitors and residents, bye posting information of Kendal's History, its present , and its future. With information on its business life past and present, its "Places of Interest" , on its people and links to other sites which may prove of interest to anyone interested in Kendal , The Lake District , and Cumbria

The above picture was taken on a quiet Sunday afternoon in June 2009 and shows Kendal Town Hall looking towards Highgate. The Town hall started life as the "Assembley Rooms" in 1825 and did not become the "TownHall" until some 40 years later. The Belltower and Clock were inaugurated in June 1897. Every three hours during the day the carillion places a different folk tune at 9am, 12noon, 3pm and 6 pm. The clock strikes each hour and chimes each quarter hour.

The Town Hall is a landmark in Kendal and can be seen from many parts of the town. Great for visitors as it currently houses the Visitor Information Centre.

For more information on The Town Hall try this link to the "Visit Cumbria" website

http://www.visitcumbria.com/kendal/kendal-tic.htm

Future Blogs will have photos from all over the town , many featuring some of the "yards" that make Kendal famous (well almost as famous as our Mint Cake).

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