A FASCINATING picture of life in Kendal during the 19th century is revealed in a new DVD, created by Britain on Film.

‘Kendal - The Way We Were’ uncovers the hidden stories behind many of the features for which the town is well known including its cobbled yards.

But it also tells of the hardship faced by families, many of who were blighted by cholera in 1832.

It might also be surprising to learn that one of the town’s most popular pubs was originally where the residents of the yards went to wash their clothes and take a bath.

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The film discovers why construction of the Clock Tower caused so much controversy; why the Ring o’ Bells pub had a door facing the church; why New Shambles was once known as Stinking Lane; and why the poet Wordsworth was so opposed to the railway that he wrote a poem in protest.

The DVD also looks at some of the many changes that took place in Kendal in the 19th century including the decline of the wool trade and the growth of industry, the last days of the stagecoach, when the ‘Kendal Flying Machine’ took three days to reach London, the opening of the Kendal and Lancaster Canal and the coming of the railway that superseded both.

This remarkable period in Kendal’s past is brought to life with stories of the time from the Westmorland Gazette.

The DVD, which costs £15.50, can be collected from The Westmorland Gazette, 1 Wainwright’s Yard, Kendal, LA9 4DP, or by calling 0845 313 9463 (local rate) or online at www.britainonfilm.co.uk