The Castle Dairy is a

medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the Post-classical, post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with t ...

building located in

Kendal Kendal, once Kirkby in Kendal or Kirkby Kendal, is a market town and civil parish in the South Lakeland district of Cumbria, England, south-east of Windermere and north of Lancaster. Historically in Westmorland, it lies within the dale of th ...

Cumbria Cumbria ( ) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in North West England, bordering Scotland. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local government, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumb ...

. The name implies a connection to

Kendal Castle Kendal Castle is a medieval fortification to the east of the town of Kendal, Cumbria, in northern England. The castle, which is atop a glacial drumlin, was built in the 13th century as the Caput baroniae for the Barony of Kendal. By the 15th cen ...

and it is possibly the town's oldest continuously inhabited structure. A Grade I

listed Listed may refer to: * Listed, Bornholm, a fishing village on the Danish island of Bornholm * Listed (MMM program), a television show on MuchMoreMusic * Endangered species in biology * Listed building, in architecture, designation of a historicall ...

building, it is now a restaurant. The building is located on the north side of Wildman Street, near to Stramongate Bridge, to which it may also have some connection.

Design

The two-storey building's exterior is constructed of coursed rubble with

quoins Quoins ( or ) are masonry blocks at the corner of a wall. Some are structural, providing strength for a wall made with inferior stone or rubble, while others merely add aesthetic detail to a corner. According to one 19th century encyclopedia, t ...

. The interior has a central hall with cross wings at either end. It retains numerous historic features, including carvings, fireplaces and original windows, and the interior has been described as exceptionally well preserved. The upper floor holds a small chapel which has a 14th-century window, reputed to be the smallest window in Kendal.

Early history

While the building's original use is uncertain, it may have been a farmhouse or private residence. The name 'dairy' may be a corruption of the word

dowry A dowry is a payment, such as property or money, paid by the bride's family to the groom or his family at the time of marriage. Dowry contrasts with the related concepts of bride price and dower. While bride price or bride service is a payment b ...

and it has been speculated that the property was the home of a widow at some point. Around 1560, the building was extensively remodelled for Anthony Garnett and numerous dated features remain.

Renovation and current use

For many years, the building was a restaurant, but this closed in 2007 and the building fell into disrepair. It was included on

Historic England Historic England (officially the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England) is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. It is tasked wit ...

's 'Heritage at Risk' register in 2010.

South Lakeland District Council South is one of the cardinal directions or compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both east and west. Etymology The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Proto-Germanic ''*sunþaz' ...

approached

Kendal College Kendal College is a further education college situated in Kendal on the edge of the Lake District National Park. The college provides a range of training and education programmes, including Further Education, Higher Education and training cour ...

about incorporating the building into its campus and extensive refurbishment took place between March and September 2011. Funding for the £200,000 project came from English Heritage, the district council, the college and two additional organisations, the Savoy Trust and Lakeland Vintners. The Castle Dairy reopened in October 2011, with the ceremony performed by historian

David Starkey David Robert Starkey (born 3 January 1945) is an English historian and radio and television presenter, with views that he describes as conservative. The only child of Quaker parents, he attended Kendal Grammar School before studying at Cambr ...

, who grew up in the town. The Castle Dairy now operates as an art gallery and a college-run restaurant, with food prepared by Kendal College hospitality students.

References

External links

The Castle Dairy restaurant website

Castle Dairy profile in Lancashire Life
{{DEFAULTSORT:Castle Dairy Buildings and structures completed in the 14th century Buildings and structures in Cumbria Tourist attractions in Cumbria Grade I listed buildings in Kendal

Design

Early history

Renovation and current use

See also

References

External links