inspired by 'Kendal Brown'

'Kendal Brown' is the name given to a popular variety of snuff produced in Kendal since the mid 18th Century. According to Jonathan Swift, in 1724,'The makers of snuff employ by far the greatest number of hands of any manufacture in the kingdom'. I find that difficult to believe, but Kendal was the undisputed centre of snuff manufacture in the North. The tobacco leaves were imported from Maryland and Virginia to the local ports of Whitehaven and Maryport.

The offices of Gawith, Hogarth and Company in Lowther Street are adorned with this colourful figure of a Turk, suggesting luxuries such as might be associated with the Court of the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire.

'Gawith, Hogarth and Company'......Now there's a name for J K Rowling to conjure with.