News and Events
Temporary closure and changes at Kendal Archive Centre
The public service of Kendal Archive Centre, based in the Herdwick Room at Kendal Library, will be temporarily closed from 23 March 2026 for approximately three months. This closure is required to allow staff to relocate archive collections currently stored at Kendal County Offices. Protecting the collections in our care is our highest priority. Kendal County Offices is no longer suitable for archival storage, and most collections will therefore be moved to DeepStore Records Management in Cheshire, a specialist facility meeting the environmental and security standards approved by The National Archives. A small number of collections will be transferred temporarily to our other archive offices.
We will update this webpage once we are able to reopen the public service. When it resumes, access will continue from the Herdwick Room on the same basis as before, with researchers asked to book appointments and request documents in advance.
During the closure period:
- Staff will be unable to respond to enquiries relating to Kendal Archives' collections due to the movement of records.
- We will, however, continue to respond to statutory requests under Freedom of Information and Data Protection legislation.
- Organisations or individuals wishing to deposit records during this time should contact us at kendal.archives@cumberland.gov.uk for guidance.
We expect to use DeepStore for around two years. During this period, Westmorland and Furness Council and Cumberland Council will work together to begin consulting with stakeholders -including depositors, The National Archives, users, local heritage groups and partners, and the wider community - to identify a long term solution for the storage of Kendal Archives.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this short closure. If you require further information, please contact us at the email address above.
Letter from Daniel Dobson to his brother and sister, requesting relief for him to buy furniture, 11 Jan 1824 (Kendal Archives, WPR 19/7/6/17/1)
'Writing under stress': the meaning and materiality of pauper letters
Free workshops provided by Nottingham Trent University in association with Cumbria Archives
Wednesday 15 April 2026 and Thursday 16 April 2026, 10 AM to 4.15 PM, at Carlisle Archive Centre, Petteril Bank Road, Carlisle CA1 3AJ
Pauper Letters are a fascinating historical source. They were written in their thousands by paupers to apply for, or negotiate the terms of, relief under the old poor law in England and Wales (1601-1834). In the past, historians have used them extensively to write new and important ‘histories from below’; but up to now they have tended not to look beyond the text in order to understand key issues such as how paupers sourced paper and ink, and what it really meant for often barely literate writers to put pen to paper. Join our team of specialists for a one-day workshop when we will truly get ‘under the skin’ of these enigmatic documents, looking at materials and methods of construction, and exploring what they can tell us about past lives and popular literacy.
The Writing Under Stress team:
• Professor Steven King, Historian, Nottingham Trent University
• Dr Paul Garside, Conservation Scientist, University of Glasgow
• Dr Peter Jones, Historian, Nottingham Trent University
The workshop on 15 April 2026 is suitable for enthusiasts at all levels of experience. The workshop on 16 April 2026 is particularly suitable for those with an interest in conservation science, archive practice, and cross-disciplinary approaches to historical sources. However, no particular specialism or expertise is required to attend. Booking is by Eventbrite only, please use links below.
Workshop 15 April 2026: full details (PDF), and Eventbrite booking link
Workshop 16 April 2026: full details (PDF), and Eventbrite booking link
Please note that repeat workshops will be held at Stricklandgate House, Kendal, on 16 and 17 September, 2026. Tickets will be available via Eventbrite closer to the dates.
Fading Fires film
This short documentary film was created in 2024 by Benjamin Bogorad and looks at the decline of West Cumbria's heavy industries through the eyes of a former steelworker and coal miner. It features material from the British Steel Company collection, which is held at Whitehaven Archives. The film was selected at a number of film festivals, earning both Jury Prize and Finalist awards.
Changes to access to records at Kendal Archive Centre
The following Kendal collections have been moved on a temporary basis to Barrow Archive Centre and are available to consult there.
WDAW: Alfred Wainwright
WDMDS: Mike Davies-Shiel papers
WDRY: Le Fleming of Rydal Hall
WDTE: Browne family of Townend, Troutbeck (Westmorland)
WDVAS: Josefina de Vasconcellos
Some other collections at Kendal require a one or two week advance notice to us and further details can be found on our Advance Order Collections webpage.
Kendal Archives Centre will provide an interim public service from the Herdwick Room in the local studies library at Kendal Library, Stricklandgate, Kendal LA9 4PY. Please note the following important changes to our service:
- Please book an appointment and request records at least 72 hours before your intended visit as researcher spaces are limited in the Herdwick Room
- Our opening hours will change to Wednesdays to Fridays, 10am-4pm (no lunch closure)
- We cannot offer a drop in service at the Herdwick Room - an appointment will be required
- Our contact details will remain the same
- We can arrange deposits at County Offices by prior appointment. Please contact us for further details.