BB1705 : Great Grandad's Army and Other Relics

Thursday 9th February 2017

Rarely has a BOOTboys expedition encountered so many different historical features. To rival it, I can only think of BB1211 when we visited Tony's Other Woman.

We thought the weather too cold and unpredictable to be heading high so a local tour was devised to include this miscellany of features.

The One-o'clock Gun

To get there, we had to walk through Maud's Meadow, pass by Gandy Nook- one of the oldest houses in the area and then by the first home we owned after Margaret and I married.

For more on the Gun, see Kendal's Time Guns .

Great Grandad's Army's Rifle Range*

Across the golf course are the remains of the firing positions for the rifle range. This was one of several created in the county around the 1860s when the Rifle Volunteer Corps grew as a home defence force; a forerunner of the Territorials.

There are firing mounds from 800 to 100 yards from the target.  

Some are quite easy to spot, other need imagination (or specialist knowledge). These days the firing would have to be across the Kendal bypass, which lies between the 500 and 400 yard positions.

You can see the range quite clearly in this aerial photo I took from Martin's balloon in 2002:

The Pillow Mounds*

After visiting the Cunswick Scar summit we dropped down into the valley, looking for the Pillow Mounds.

In the 14th century, rabbits were not to be found in the area but were considered fine meat.  Consequently, mounds were constructed into which imported rabbits were settled, encouraged to breed and then eaten!

Their location is shown on the OS map below, in the field to the east of where it says "Pillow Mounds".

We stopped for lunch amongst the mounds (or in Terry's case- inside a tree), although rabbit was not on the menu.

The Romano-British Settlement*

The 1888 OS map confused the Pillow Mounds with the with the Romano-British settlement, which is quite understandable when you look at the ground  However, its true location lies a little to the north-west and elements of its outline can be seen from the farm track.  Here is a more accurate represenatation.

Cunswick Hall

We knew that Grade 1 listed Cunswick Hall was undergoing major restoration and didn't expect to be able to see very much.  However when we were spotted having a nosey, we were invited in to have a good look at this old building and the impressive restoration that has been taking place for two years and has some way to go yet.

Parts of the building are ancient, probably 12th or 13th century.  There is a lot of work to be done yet but it will be a fabulous residence once finished.

Lime Kiln*

Near the top of Gamblesmire Lane is one of the best condition lime kilns in the area. Thought to be 17th Century.

Round Barrow and Kist*

At the top of Gamblesmire Lane is a small round barrow and kist.  We think we found the former, rather broken by shrubs.  We are not sure if we found the kist but did see something that might well have been a stone grave but, not being experts, we were not entirely sure!

The Mushroom

Having crossed over on to Scout Scar, we reached the mushroom shelter. The wind was very cold but the shelter's design provided a calm quarter in which to have a coffee.

Refreshed, we set off east across Bradleyfield to the Racecourse.

Kendal Racecourse

The outline of the Kendal Racecourse, located alongside the road to Brigsteer, can be seen very clearly where the ground has been banked to provide a level track.  It is perhaps remarkable that it is so evident, given that it was only used from 1821 to 1834 and then again from 1879 to 1882.

It was the site of the first Kendal Calling Music Festival, although that is now held at the Lowther Deer Park.

Postman Pat and the Rifleman's Arms

We followed the Brigsteer Road down into Kendal where, at Greenside, is a terrace with the former Beast Banks Post Office at one end and the Rifleman's Arms at the other.

Postman Pat's author lived further up the road and he, John Cunliffe, used to imagine Mrs Groggins behind the counter of the Post Office whilst Pat (and his black and white cat) were out on their rounds.

Presumably Great Grandad and the other Kendal Rifle Volunteers finished (or maybe started) their training with a session at the Rifleman's Arms.  This is a great community pub but sadly was closed this afternoon.

Castle Howe and the Monument

Before visiting the castle I had a look at the doorway to the Scotch Burial Ground but as ever it was locked and there is no way of seeing inside.  Who has a key?

Castle Howe  today is not to be seen but it was on top of a considerable, presumably man-built, mound.  It was an 11th Century motte and bailey construction, probably built by the Norman Ivo de Taillebois to help subjugate Westmorland.

Atop the motte today is the Monument, erected in 1778 to celebrate the Glorious Revolution of 1688 in which King James II was overthrown by Parliament and William of Orange became king.

Kendal Brewery

Below the castle is Kendal Brewery.  Now the beating heart of artistic culture in Kendal, it has an excellent Warehouse Cafe where we rounded off the main part of the walk.

Following our celebrations (coffee for once, not beer) we wandered along the main street of Kendal to the car.  There are many points of interest that we passed but I think that's enough for today!

Don, Thursday 9th February 2017

* Information on these topics kindly provided by Jeremy Rowan Robinson, joint author of Great Grandad's Army - Rifle Ranges of the Lake District.

 Comitibus: Queens Road, Kendal

Map shown: Ordnance Survey 1:25k

BOOTboys routes are put online in gpx format which should work with most mapping software. You can follow our route in detail by downloading bb1705 .

To discover which Wainwright top was visited on which BB outing - although it may not be that up to date - or for the totals of the mileages and heightages (ditto) see the Excel file: BB Log.

You can navigate to the required report via the Home Page

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BOOTboys 2017

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