Locale

• Known as the Gateway to the Lakes...

  • ppl dont stay for long, just passing on way to Lakes so trying to get rid of name so ppl stay for longer
• The local grey limestone buildings give Kenda the nickname of 'Auld Grey Town'...

  • grey gloomy atmosphere > pathetic fallacy > reflects weather
  • reflect landscape > slate > old fashioned, traditional
• Kendal was built in the valley of the River Kent on slightly sloping land...

  • good for agri e.g. sheep farming
  • hills > vertical expansion > N/S more urbanised than E/S
  • higher flood risk
• Oldest part of town in Kirkland near Nether Bridge where river could be forded to take sheep through then bridged...

  • historical and cultural value
  • became route focus > new road connections to bridges to cross rivers
  • proud identity over bridges
• The river important site factor due to access to water for its population and to generate power in the mills...

  • flooding for those who live near e.g. Storm Desmond 2015
  • employment, textile industry
• The Kent valley provided sheltered site of development:

  • poor weather so shelter is good > became popular place to live > lowland > increase pop
• Position in the valley made important routeway though uplands which became A6...

  • transport opps
  • Fleece Coaching Inn > trade > place to stay on way from S to N
• Sheep farming important> high rainfall and heavy clay soils idea...

  • agri business > employment
  • sheep survive on steep slopes of hills > land use
  • significant peart of local economy
• The meaning behind the Kendal coat of arms:

  • Gold background depicts a laid out cow hide
  • the teasel (prickly type of plant) and bale hooks represent wool trade
  • Kendalian archers famously wore Kendal Green at Battle of Agincourt > now made at Croppers Mill in bside and was referenced by Shakespeare

  
• Starkey insider perspective on Kendal but didn't live there:

  • uses negative descriptive language e.g. 'called an off-comer' 'tiny' 'smug'
  • felt marginalised and isolated > didn't feel he could fit in
  • bitterness and unhappy
  • insider perspective > grew up there but still didn't feel he could belong
  • local pop unwelcoming and hostile