Malcolm Wheatman, 83, of Kendal, recalls the area’s disappearing hills

OVER the years, a few Kendal hills have disappeared.

People above a certain age will remember them by their colloquial names.

One of them, in the town, was officially signposted ‘Malt Kiln Hill’ which, in recent times, one day became the top end of Caroline Street, and the street name boards officially changed.

Locals above a certain age always called it Mawky-hill, some might still do. Historians will probably tell of it being named from the malt kiln once sited there.

The first to disappear was ‘House of Correction Hill’.This undoubtedly was a colloquial name as the imposing Kendal Prison, which dominated the area until the early part of the 20th century, was sited there.

The steep part of Windermere Road as it climbed out of the town was referred to by locals as ‘House o’Correc’.

Another to disappear was Orphans’ Home Hill, on Milnthorpe Road, presumably named after the original purpose of the large building there. It is now a hotel.

Residents of Oxenholme and Natland once referred to the steep part of Burton Road as ‘Natland Brow’, before the Oxenholme Lane turn-off to Natland. It had a sharp bend at the bottom, dangerous if a driver was descending too fast.

Lakes holiday traffic once queued to this point when held up by the traffic lights on Netherfield Bridge. With road improvements, the bend has disappeared and with the incline of the steep part reduced, the brow has virtually disappeared.

The old Sedbergh Road is still referred to by locals as ‘The Greyhound’, but some drivers now use the less steeply inclined Castle Green Lane route, both crossing Paddy Lane and meeting at the Toll Bar.