Town Clock
The Town hall clock was first on the Moot Hall tower initially facing the Market Place then moved in August 1840 to face Stricklandgate. When the Corporation moved offices to the White Hall in 1861/1862 the clock was given to St Thomas' Church but the bell went to the White Hall.
"I have been unable to find any record of a public clock having been set up in this town prior to the year 1582, before which period one would suppose that:
“Time told his birthdays by the sun.”
In the above year, however, we learn from the Boke off Recorde that “James Leyburne esquyer of his liberalitie ffor the vse benyfite & pleasure off all the inhabitants of Kyrkby Kendall and also off all others comynge and resortinge vnto the same did ffrelie geve & bestowe all his clock furnyshed wth the soundinge bell belonginge, as the same was standinge at his Manor house off Cunyswicke wthin this pishe, together wth divers oke trees in his pke off Cunyswicke for settinge and placinge the same vpon.” It is highly probable that this frame and clock remained standing in the Market Place for 167 years, that is to say until the year 1759, when upon rebuilding the Moot Hall the clock was, as we know, suspended out from the heightened tower, in which position it remained until the year 1774. No wonder that after indicating the flight of time to six or seven generations of our townsmen, besides having previously done duty for an indefinite period at Cunswick Hall, that we read at last of its erratic movements and the troubled faces of those who resorted to it for the time of day.
A five days’ severe battle was fought at Appleby in October 1774> parliamentary representation of Westmorland, which resulted in the return of Sir James Lowther and Sir Michael de Fleming. Sir James, of “galloping Jammy” renown, whilst staying at the “White Lion” a short time afterwards, also became annoyed with the wayward movements of the old clock, and by way of commemorating his happy victory, presented to the Corporation a new one made by Wm. Wilson, of All Hallows Lane. The gift seems to have been a particularly generous one, seeing that the town as a whole voted against the donor in the election. For 87 years this clock served the town, at first with its dial facing into the Market Place, until August, 1840, when it was rehung on the front of the Hall, so as to face up and down the main street."
In a dialogue, the Rev. Edward Hawkes makes t’ auld Toon Clock expostulate about its “ dour mesters, who were for ivver riving and rooting,” as follows :—
“ If ye’ll tak t’ trouble, Sir, to leeak back intuit Kendal papers, aboot t’ time when Lord John were trying to tinker t’ Reform Bill ower agen, mappen i’ ’51 or ’52 ye’ll see o’ aboot it. O sorts o’ folks had been starin’ and jibin’ at ma ; an’ sayin’ I was good to nout at o’. But it was o’ t’ fault o’ them that sud ha’ guided me reet. Well, then I get sic a scooring, an’ my feeace and fingers and harms were paanted and varnished, an’ I kna net wat; an’ et last I were weel oilt and let ga ; an’ I foon it easy gaing, for they let me ga on “ tick,” which maist high leeved folk like ye kna. An’ then t’ Editor o’ th’ paper, I kenna which, sed to ma coomfort—for Sir, I were enlightened like, I can read t’ paper gay weel—he sed verrra grand, ‘ The machinery, which is self-illuminating, is retained ; and we are fain to believe that the Town Hall clock, instead of being any longer a gibe and a joke, will really be rendered not only useful but ornamental to the worthy Kendalians.’ Eh Sir, but it did mi auld worn oot works gude to read, a’ that, its so gran and self satisfactory like, I shall ev a wink o’ rest and bide my ain time.”
Poor thing, its rest was not for long, the time soon came for it to go to a saintlier home. For when the Corporation removed in 1861 to the White Hall, the old clock, after being deprived of its bell which was removed to the new hall, was presented to St. Thomas’ Church by the Mayor and Corporation, and a subscription was made for its thorough repair, renovation, and erection there. It first struck the bell of this church on August nth, 1862, and a cleaver contrivance was made so that it could do this at every successive half hour, much to the delight, we are told, of the inhabitants of that parish.
I have before me an interesting paper which is dated October 24th, 1843,in which is set forth “ A list of Days appointed by the Corporation of Kendal on which to hoist the Town’s Flag.”
January 1 — New Year’s Day.
February 10 - Queen’s Marriage.
April 29 - Kendal Spring Fair Day.
May 24 - Queen’s Birthday.
May 29 - Restoration of Charles II.
June 7 - Reform Bill passed.
June 18 - General peace.
June 20 - Queen’s Accession.
June 28 - Queen's Coronation.
August 13 - Queen Dowager’s Birthday.
August 17 - Duchess of Kent’s Birthday.
August 26 - Prince Albert’s Birthday.
November 1 - Election of Town Councillors.
November 9 - Election of Mayor, Prince of Wales’ Birthday and Kendal Fair Day.
Easter Day.
Whit-Monday.
And such other days as the Mayor may direct.
John F Curwen, Kirkbie Kendal (1900)
