Historian Arthur Nicholls reveals more of the stories behind some of Kendal’s streets and names

Continuing our search for more notable Kendalian names, we have Kendal’s own queen recorded in Queen Katherine and Parr Streets.

We know that Katherine was not born in the castle but did she ever visit it? She did visit her Aunt, Lady Strickland, at Sizergh Castle so it is possible she took a look at the town too? Who knows? The Mayor’s Parlour at the Town Hall treasure her tiny book of prayers.

Another Queen is remembered in Caroline Street off Windermere Road. She was the unloved wife of George IV.

The Tories took the part of the King and the Whigs that of the Queen. In about 1821 they supported the Kendal Union Building Society in constructing the three streets near the Workhouse, of which Caroline Street is one. These were only sold to Whig supporters who were then given the vote, thus increasing the Liberal vote. The houses were called the Blue Buildings after the colours of the Whigs.

The Cropper name is remembered in the old Fanny Cropper Hospital at the top of Captain French Lane, built in 1870 by James Cropper as a memorial to his wife.

It closed in 1908 when the new County Hospital nearby was opened and the building has since been used for various purposes.

James came from the notable family of papermakers in Burneside. He was very active in public life, being the last MP for the Borough of Kendal and the first chairman of Westmorland County Council. His monument in Abbot Hall Park records his Christian ideal in public and private life.

On the east of the town is Gandy Street, named after James Gandy, owner of Kendal’s largest wool mill and chairman of the Bank of Westmorland.

Dockray Mill suffered disastrous fires in the 1800s, a constant hazard in mills. It was bought by James Whitwell in the 1850s and made carpets. It was one of the first two factories in Kendal installing steam-powered looms in 1860 but was demolished in 1940.

Near Gandy Street, Ann Street is named after James' wife. In that street another Ann, Ann Cookson, lived. On a plaque on her house is an enigmatic question translated from Latin, ‘Who’d have thought it?’ We still don’t know what!

In Stramongate is Bellingham House, named after the Bellingham family of Burneshead. They had seats at both Burneside and Levens Halls and for convenience as Barons of Kendal, had their town house in Stramongate. It dates from 1544 but was completely restored in 1863. In the yard outside is a water pump and the tethering ring for horses when grooms were attending to their needs.

The Parish Church contains the Bellingham Family Chapel with a bronze monument.