New Shambles Lane, Kendal

An ancient route became the New Shambles in 1804 when the land was redeveloped, becoming the home of 12 butchers shops. For obvious reasons it became known as Stinking Lane even though the owners paid 2/6 a week to have the lane cleaned.

We made the long trip to Kendal to see the town and to look at the location of properties that are on the market. A new development at Oakmere was very attractive. Its drawback was the going down into the town was easy, the walk back up would soon pall given it was along a busy road.

It’s not that we want to live in Kendal. We wanted to see what the town was like and the location of properties that, on paper had caught our eye.

Susan liked the town, I think it’s the first time we’ve been there in the warm and dry. It’s a town to bear in mind as a last resort. Cockermouth is still firmly No 1. It was good to get back to the quieter, beautiful countryside and fells around the Vale of Lorton