SIR, Following the publication of our book Kendal Green, we wish to follow-up the question of Belgian refugees who came to South Lakeland when their country was occupied by the German army during the First World War. Articles in The Wesmorland Gazette and Kendal Mercury and Times in October 1914 referred to a group of about 70 refugees in Kendal most of whom were accommodated in two pairs of semi-detached houses: Silverhow/ Overdale and Hollycroft (now 23-24 and 25-26 Kendal Green respectively). Others lived at Prospect on Queen's Road. A further 12 refugees were lodged in the village of Cunsey near Sawrey - for whom arrangements were made by the Misses Edmondson of Briers Wood - and four at Rothay Manor, Ambleside, with Mrs McKay.
Since the book was published we have been contacted from Canada by the son of one of the young Belgian women who lived on Kendal Green and later married an Englishman.
If any one who reads this letter has information about Belgian refugees who lived in Westmorland, or elsewhere, and would be prepared to contact us about it, we should be very grateful.
John & Jean Coopey
24 Kendal Green
Kendal LA9 5PN Tel: 01539-723242
May 2, 2003 13:30
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