KENDALE, KENTDALE, or KIR1:131' 1 x KENDAL, is a ! market town of England, in the county of Westmoreland. It stands in an agreeable valley on the west side of the river Kent, which is crossed by three bridges. The town consists of one spacious and well built street, having seve ral narrow streets branching off from it at right angles ; and of another main street, called Straminongate, in both , of which the houses are chiefly built of hewn limestone, and covered with slate. The streets are well paved and lighted. On the east of the town fl)ws the river Kent ; and on the west is a long row of hanging gardens. The church stands at Kirkland, without the town. It is 180 feet long, and 99 broad. It has five aisles, and a square tower with eight good bells. There are also a meeting house for Presbyterians, one for Quakers, two for Metho dists, and a Roman Catholic chapel. The town hall is a " very elegant building ;" and the butcher market, which was built about twenty-three years ago, is neat and conve nient. A new gaol, with cells underneath, has been recent ly erected.
The principal charitable establishments are, a free gram mar school, on the west side of the church-yard, which is well endowed, and has exhibitions to Queen's College, Oxford; Sandes' hospital and charity school, founded in 1670, with convenient dwellings for eight poor widows ; a blue coat school, in which 50 boys and 40 girls are clothed, educated, and bred up to the art of weaving ; a school of industry, instituted in 1799 ; a dispensary, be gun in 1782, and supported by voluntary contribution ; and a large and airy workhouse at the west end of the The ruins of Kendal castle stand on the top of a hill, on the west side of the town, composed of rounded stones, embedded in a black sandy cement. Part of two squares
and two round towers lately remained, and the foundations were repaired, and the fosse round the ruins enlarged in 1813. Opposite to the castle is castlelaw hall, which con sists of a circular mount of gravel and earth, thrown upon a rock nearly 30 feet high. Round its base is a deep ditch, and a high dyke, fortified with two bastions on the east. In 1788, the inhabitants erected upon it a handsome obelisk, with an inscription, in commemoration of the Revolution of 1688. The government of the town is vested in a mayor, recorder, 12 aldermen, and 20 capital burgesses. There are here seven incorporated companies. A newspaper is printed in this town, and there is a very respectable book club, and an interesting museum.
The principal manufactures of Kendal, are Kendal cot tons, a sort of coarse woollen cloths, and linseys for the North American market. Great quantities of woollen stockings are annually knit. Cotton mills, and the weaving of muslin, were lately established. A marble manufac tory employs several hands, and has its mills for sawing and polishing at Water Crook. The marble is chiefly pro cured from Kendal Fell. The leather trade is also consi derable ; and there is a great supply of fruit from the nu merous orchards. Hats, fish hooks, and wool cards, are also manufactured hero.
See Nicholson and Brown's History and Antiquities of !Westmoreland; and the Beauties of England and 'Vales, vol. x v. p. 190.