A society founded amid the bulldozer age is celebrating 40 years of helping to preserve Kendal's historic fabric and

promote the best of new design.

Kendal Civic Society president Peter Crewdson said the "magnificent turnout" for the annual meeting at the Shakespeare Centre showed just how vital the society's work was.

Looking back, he said the society was founded when "we were heavily in the age of the bulldozer" and its main task was to "act as opposition to some of the more horrible things that were going on".

"Sadly we were frustrated in a number of cases in our opposition," he said, citing as an

example the Waterside flats, against which the society "fought like blazes" and put forward architects' drawings for different designs.

In the early 1960s the society tried "desperately hard" to save the five houses of historic New Bank Yard, between Lowther Street and Kent Street, from the bulldozer.

Three society members acting as "stooges" even bought

properties with the help of money from Provincial, and the society tried to get permission to restore the yard.

However, the council got a compulsory purchase order so it could build a car park, and the only original property of New Bank Yard remaining is the

distinctive house which sits above an archway.

The CPO did, however, put £3,000 into the coffers of Kendal Civic Society, which meant it could start restoring Collin Croft in the 1970s.

The president said the

society's work had become more and more positive over the years, which was the great difference between then and now.

Chairman John Satchell, who was presented with a bottle of champagne to celebrate his recent 80th birthday, gave

members a rundown of activities.

To help keep the restoration of the Northern Reaches of the

Lancaster Canal in the public eye, the society hopes to renew a set of stone steps from Natland Mill Beck Lane to the towpath. "At the moment they are extremely dangerous and slippery, and the stones go in all directions," said Dr Satchell.

He said it was hoped to secure grants from sources such as the Inland Waterways Association, and discussions were taking place with British Waterways' chief project engineer about the rebuild.

Meanwhile, English Heritage has decided Greenside Lime Kiln can become a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The society hopes to repair and restore the feature, and to create an attractive public area.

In another project, the society has given money towards floodlighting a cross on the centre gable of St George's Church.

And Dr Satchell announced that the first exhibition of

pictures from Kendal Town Hall's collection on the theme of old Kendal is to be held in mid-August.

Future displays on Kendal worthies, local artists, and prominent families, may follow.

April 30, 2003 09:01