Cumbria Archives
Preserving and providing the historical records of Cumbria

Kendal Archive Centre

Exterior of Kendal Library
Kendal temporary searchroom Kendal Library

Contact details

Kendal Archive Centre
County Offices
Kendal
Cumbria
LA9 4RQ

Telephone: 01539 713540
Email: kendal.archives@cumberland.gov.uk

Reading Room

Herdwick Room
Local studies library
Kendal Library
Stricklandgate
Kendal
Cumbria
LA9 4PY

Opening hours

Open Wednesday to Friday: 10am to 4 pm (no closure at lunchtime)
Please make an appointment and order records at least 72 hours before your visit.  Due to restricted space in the Herdwick Room and the need to transport records to Kendal Library, we shall be unable to help researchers without an appointment.
The Archive Centre is closed to the public on all other days.

Related links

More about Kendal Archive Centre

Sources available at Kendal Archive Centre

Records relating to the historic county of Westmorland, and also some for the Sedbergh-Dent district (formerly in the West Riding of Yorkshire) and for the Cartmel district (formerly in Lancashire North of the Sands). These include:

  • Church of England and non-conformist church records
  • Local authorities, civil Parishes, statutory bodies, schools and official records
  • Businesses, industries, societies, organisations and charities
  • Families, landed estates and solicitors
  • Ordnance Survey maps of Westmorland and Trade Directories

Significant collections include:

  • The archive of Thomas H. Mawson, landscape architect of Lancaster and Windermere, late 19th to 20th centuries (collection references WDB 76 and WDB 86)
  • Lady Anne Clifford (1590-1676) of Appleby Castle records (reference WDHOTH/1/10)
  • Sir Daniel Fleming of Rydal Hall papers, late 17th century (collection reference WDRY). 

Sources available at Kendal Local Studies Library (microfilm/fiche)

  • Church of England Parishes and Non-conformist Church registers
  • Census returns 1841-1901 for Westmorland and the Sedbergh-Dent district (formerly in the West Riding of Yorkshire)
  • Census index for Cumberland, Westmorland and the Isle of Man 1881
  • Probate records (Deaneries of Kendal and Furness, and Carlisle Consistory Court 1536-1860)
  • Newspapers

Other facilities at Kendal Archive Centre

  • One public access computer to allow brief 'look-ups' of a limited selection of useful websites containing local sources, including CASCAT, Ancestry and Find My Past
  • Free, public wi-fi

Finding Kendal Archive Centre, parking and access

Location

Access

Parking

Buses

Trains

Herdwick Room in the local studies library sited in the rear upper area of Kendal Library.Main entrance at the front of Kendal Library - follow signs inside for local studies. For disabled/wheelchair access, please go to signposted access at side of Kendal Library.Public pay and display car park at rear of Kendal Library (Marks and Spencer) or at the rear of County Offices, with free parking for Blue Badge users. Multistorey carpark also available nearby.There is a bus station on Blackhall Road outside Westmorland Shopping Centre. Buses to Kendal stop in the town centre, which is 5 minutes walk from Kendal Library. The nearest main line railway station is Oxenholme which is 2 miles from the town centre; taxis or buses can be caught at the station. Kendal Station, which is a short walk from Kendal Library, is on the Oxenholme - Windermere branch line.