Kendal Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
Kendal is an ancient town in the former county of Westmorland, now in the South Lakeland district county of Cumbria. It stands on the river Kent from which it takes its name (Kent-Dale, when said quickly, is Kendal). It is where Kendal mint cake was originally made.Currently with a population of 27,521 (2001 estimate), Kendal was pronounced the best place to live in England by an eight-year long survey undertaken by the University of Strathclyde.
Location
Kendal is situated on the edge of the Lake District National Park. Local scenes have long been inspiration for poets, writers and musicians, and a relatively large number of famous faces reside or have holiday homes in the area. Now part of the county of Cumbria, Kendal is an important town in a largely rural area.
History
A chartered market town, the centre of Kendal is structured around a highstreet with fortified yards off to either side which allowed the local population to seek shelter from Celtic raiding parties. The main industry in these times was the manufacture of woollen goods - indeed the town coat of arms features several icons associated with the woolen industry and the town's latin motto "Pannus mihi panis" is literally translated as "wool is my bread". "Kendal Green" was hard-wearing wool-based fabric specific to the local manufacturing process, and was supposedly sported by the Kendalian archers who were instrumental in the English victory over the French at Agincourt.
The site of several (ruined) castles, the most recent one constructed in the late 12th century, Kendal has a long history as a stronghold of one kind or another.
More recently, Kendal's major industries included the manufacture of shoes, but the closure of local factories indicated the almost inevitable move towards a tourism-based economy.
Local attractions
The Kendal Museum of Natural History and Archaeology is one of the oldest in the country. It includes an exhibition on the geology of the Lake District.
Other attractions include the Abbot Hall Art Gallery and the Lakeland Museum of Rural Life.
Kendal has more attractions than many rural towns, including Tinto's, the Brewery Arts centre, a two-screen cinema, public houses, and restaurants.
Kendal has some interesting views, many of which can be seen from the ruined castle which rises out of the centre of the valley in which Kendal resides.
Mint cake
The most famous product of Kendal is mint cake, a glucose-based product reputedly accidentally discovered by one Joseph Wiper during his search for the clear glacier mint.
Used on numerous expeditions to mountaintops (including Mount Everest and K2) and both poles of the Earth, its popularity is mainly due to the very astute decision of the original manufacturer's great nephew to market it as an energy food, and to supply Ernest Shackleton's 1914-1917 Transarctic Expedition.
By the time the business was sold to competitor Romney's in 1987 there were a whole host of rival mint cake producers, many of which are still in business.