Difference between revisions of "Gillinggate"

Latest revision as of 16:51, 24 October 2022

Joining Bankfield Road and Lynngarth Drive to the west and Highgate to the east it is joined by Rock View on the north side and Anchorite Road and Buttery Well Lane to the south.

It is mentioned in "Kirkbie-Kendal, Fragments collected relating to it's ancient Streets and Yards; Church and Castle; Houses and Inns", John F Curwen, 1901

"This new street was opened out in the year 1888, and displaced some interesting property. One was a large house occupied by Thomas Brocklebank and his sister, which had previousy been the White Swan Inn, an appropriate sign, as Mr Jhn Watson happliy remarks, expressive in the thought of how fond this bird is of liquid and how all herfood is procured from it. Another house was occupied by Edward Metcalfe and Archibald Elliot. The house recently vacated by Mr Illiffe was formerly the town residence or dower house of the Leyburnes of Cunswick Hall, probably after the old Abbot Hall had become uninhabitable. It seems that many of the neighbouring gentry required such a town house to which they could remove when the wintry roads became irksome for frequent communication with the town, or to which , when a son inherited a country seat, the widow could retire. James Wilson, attorney, subsequently resided here, and after him his daughter, Miss Maria Wilson, who, loving and beloved, full of years and goodness, gently passed away in December 1863, aged 91. The Kendal Chronicle for April 4th 1818 reports that "The Quarter Sessions for the Burgh of Kirkby-in-Kendal were held on the 2nd insant, at the house of James Wilson, Esq., Deputy Recorder. There was no business of importance". Or was it hurried through in order not to interfere too much with the host's hospitality! There are several anecdotes of an eccentric nature concerning "Turney Jimmy", as the wealthy solicitor was popularly called, especially relating to his strong Tory principles, which led him to glorify his party and amuse the Liberal Blues by promenading every fine afternoon up and down in front of his house dressed in a bright yellow dressing gown, and further adorned with slippers and a cap to match. His stately funeral is rendered historical as being, I believe, the last occasion upon which door mutes were employed in Kendal, for, during the days that the body lay within, two such stood upon the pavement, one each side of the doorway, in black robes and crape hanging from their hats and staves, as motionless and silent as statues. An emblem of grief indeed, but, thank heaven, a custom now gone for ever; forerunning that happier day when all such pagan thoughts and senseless pharasaical mourning will be laid aside. Over the doorway is a splendid specimen of a carved fanshell hood, probably of oak, but it is now and has been for many decades, covered with increasing coats or paint. Oh that the landlord would realise the elegance of it's beauty, and, by removing the paint, disclose to view the handiwork of some painstaking artist."