Where can you find a Jacobite rebel, a First World War nurse, a medieval gentleman and the children’s nanny who inspired the original ‘Lost Boys’?


An injection of new funding has given an interactive attraction in Kirkby Lonsdale the chance to bring four fascinating stories to life for visitors to the historic market town.
Spanning almost 750 years of Cumbrian history, the four new video stories have been conceived and developed by freelance creative Jayne Davies for ‘The Vault’ – a unique visitor attraction located in a former bank vault to the rear of Kirkby Lonsdale’s Information and Gift Shop.
Thanks to funding from the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority Sustainable Development Fund (SDF), visitors can step back in time with an even greater range of short films where actors portray historic characters from the town’s past.
The latest investment has been match-funded by Kirkby Lonsdale CIC (Community Interest Company), which runs the attraction, and the town’s Civic Society.
The new video stories can be discovered in The Vault’s old safety deposit boxes and shine the spotlight on figures including Mary Hodgson - the real-life nanny who looked after the brothers who inspired the Lost Boys in JM Barrie’s magical fantasy, Peter Pan.
Another character under the spotlight is John De Kirkebi, a church parson in 1227, when Kirby Lonsdale was granted a market charter by King Henry III.
The other short videos focus on a Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) nurse providing care for wounded soldiers on the Underley Estate during the First World War, as well as a local Jacobite rebel backing an attempt by James Edward Stuart to regain the thrones of England, Ireland and Scotland for the exiled Stuarts in 1715.
Jac Beeson oversees Kirkby Lonsdale’s Information and Gift Shop. He says: “The Vault is an interactive installation combining fascinating stories from the town’s past with contemporary video technology. It’s already been a huge hit with both visitors and locals, with people telling us they find the videos truly addictive. Once they watch one story, they want to stay and watch the rest. We’re sure these latest videos exploring the town’s multi-layered history will be a great addition.”
Visitors heading for The Vault can also book onto a Guided Vault Walk to delve further into the mysteries of Kirkby Lonsdale by venturing through the town’s cobbled streets and secret ginnels with a local guide.
Visit www.kirkbylonsdale.info for more advice and inspiration on exploring Kirkby Lonsdale.