Kendal is an ancient market town with over 1,900 years of history, originating from the Roman fort at Watercrook in the first century AD. While formally recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, it was established earlier and later developed around a Norman castle site and a market charter granted in 1189.
The Castle Dairy is Kendal's oldest inhabited building, built in the early part of the 14th century. Images of England states that it was remodelled in 1560 for Anthony Garnett, but many of the original features still exist.
Kendal was first put on the map officially with the arrival of the Romans in the first century AD. Considering the place to be of sufficient importance, they constructed a fort here (the site is at Watercrook on a bend of the River Kent, south of the modern settlement).
Kendal takes its name from the River Kent (the toponymy of whose name is uncertain but thought to be Celtic) and the Old Norse word dalr ("valley"). Kendal is listed in the Domesday Book as part of Yorkshire with the name Cherchebi (from Old Norse kirkju-bý, "church-village").
Henry VIII's last Queen, Catherine Parr, had strong links to Cumbria, especially to Kendal. Catherine Parr became Queen of England and Ireland on her marriage to Henry VIII on 12 July 1543.
The most common crimes in Kendal are violence and sexual offences, with 1,080 offences during 2025, giving a crime rate of 32. This is 3.1% higher than 2024's figure of 1,048 offences and a difference of 1.20 from 2024's crime rate of 31.
In 1512, Thomas' wife Maud gave birth to Katherine. She was not born in Kendal Castle which, by the early 16th century, was neglected and starting to crumble into ruins. She was probably born at Blackfriars in London because Thomas and Maud had a house there and they would later be buried in St.
The motto, pannus mihi panis, is often interpreted as 'wool is my bread' which would underline the importance of the industry which, for centuries, supported the people of this busy town.
His first home in the town was 19 Castle Grove, which boasted a view of Kendal Castle from the front window. He lived and worked in the town for the rest of his life, serving as Borough Treasurer from 1948 until he retired in 1967.
The castle was originally built for the Barony of Kendal, but ownership was passed to the Parr family in the 15th-century. Now ruined, parts of the wall shield the old manor hall and the only surviving tower. Today, Kendal Castle is managed by the South Lakeland District Council and is open to the public.
Levens Hall Gardens. A Grade I Listed garden dating from 1694, through a combination of circumstance and love the gardens at Levens Hall have survived in their original design. The topiary is some of the oldest in the world and justifiably famous.
Westmorland and Cumberland, colloquially known as 'Cumbria' (not to be confused with the administrative area governed by Cumbria County Council since 1974), are also known as the Lake Counties.
What is the oldest house still standing in the UK?
Built 1148. Saltford Manor House, a Grade II listed building of Norman origin, is thought to be the oldest continuously occupied private house in England. The house was built on the estate then owned by the Earls of Gloucester and previously owned by Geoffrey de Montbray, the Bishop of Coutances (Normandy).
The castle was built on a strategic site, overlooking the River Kent and the town of Kendal. It was originally a motte and bailey castle, but in the 13th century it was rebuilt in stone. The castle has a rectangular keep, a curtain wall, and a gatehouse. There are also the remains of a chapel, a dovecote, and a well.
What title will Kate Middleton have when William is king?
When Prince William becomes King, Kate Middleton will be styled as Queen Catherine (or Queen Consort Catherine), supporting him as a non-reigning monarch, much like Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, though she won't have a regnal number like King William V. She will hold the official title of Queen Consort, a role of support and companionship to the King, but she will not rule as a monarch herself.
The next most dangerous is Barrow-in-Furness, and Carlisle comes in as third most dangerous. There are safer parts of Cumbria, identified using the same Crime Risk measurement, starting with Egremont which ranks as the safest area in Cumbria, followed up by Ulverston in second place, and Cockermouth in third place.
Why Kendal is a good place to live. Kendal, the 'Auld Grey Town', is a charming market town nestled at the edge of two majestic national parks, the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales. For those considering moving to Kendal, one of its key draws is its advantageous location that offers both natural beauty and convenience ...
The City of Westminster in London consistently shows England's highest crime rate per person, driven by its dense population, tourism, and nightlife, with rates often cited around 430+ crimes per 1,000 residents, far exceeding other areas like Camden or Middlesbrough; however, larger areas like Cleveland or West Yorkshire police force areas often have higher overall crime counts due to broader geography and population.
The Castle Dairy is a medieval building located in Kendal, Cumbria. The name implies a connection to Kendal Castle and it is possibly the town's oldest continuously inhabited structure. A Grade I listed building, it is now a restaurant.
