New life for post office building at Kendal

Christopher Barron first became fascinated with the world of antique items when he researched his family tree in his teenage years.

Over the last 15 years, the 34-year-old has built up a large collection of goods and is now preparing to enter the world of business from a store - called the The Old Curiosity Shop - in the 16th Century old post office on Kirkland.

"I originally got interested in antiques and collectables, mainly military items when researching my family tree when I was a teenager and finding out that my great grandad was awarded the Military Medal for Bravery in the First World War, and my great-great grandad was killed in action in 1917," said Christopher, who was born and bred in Kendal.

"At that point I started to collect medals and other military trinkets and over the years have diversified and have just about collected everything at some point."

Christopher then went to St Martin's College, Lancaster, and studied Business Management and Marketing - but after obtaining his degree decided he wanted to turn his hobby into a business.

He originally traded online for many years, before deciding about five years ago to buy The Old Post Office as a house with a view to developing the post office below and opening a shop.

The house is also now being let as luxury holiday accommodation on AirBnB.

"Restoring the old post office was a mammoth task," he explained. "But finally after five or so years it was completed and early this year I set about getting the shop up and running, with much help from my family.

"It is a relief to be open now. It has been the love and bane of my life but now hopefully it will just run itself.

"We have made it look like an old-fashioned shop. So far everyone has said how nice it looks.

The shop, which for the moment will open Fridays and Saturdays, sells everything from military medals, football programmes, books and computer games.

Visit www.tocshop.co.uk.