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Kendal Archive Centre

Opening hours and facilities available at Kendal Archive Centre.

Facilities

This archive centre provides:

  • Public access computers
  • Free, public wi-fi

Sources available at this 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)

Sources include:

  • Church of England Parishes and Nonconformist Church registers I.G.I.
  • 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

Collections that require advance ordering

Some collections may need to be ordered in advance, this is because they are either stored at our Carlisle outstore or need additional time for us to produce them at Kendal. 

Before you visit this centre, check our advance order collection page.

Visiting

Book a visit to Kendal Archives Centre

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