Difference between revisions of "New Biggin"

Revision as of 00:29, 9 March 2016

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

Until 1803, the entrance to this main thoroughfare was divided by a building called the "New Biggin", which commenced opposite the Town Hall, and extended northwards some 30 yards in length, and was 9 1/2 yards broad. On the east side, the passage was just wide enough for a wheeled conveyance to pass through; but, on the west, there was only sufficient for foot passengers to walk along it's cobbled pavement. This curious erection, according to a document found at the time of it's removal, was built about the year 1500

It was mostly a timber building, with the upper floor supported by 29 strong oak beaks, projecting so as to form a gallery on the north and west sides and a roof over the shops on the east side. In 1782, the shops were as follows:-

Facing south, C. Askew, glazier, with a horsing stone at the south-west corner; next to which was Mary Hodgson's meat and pot shop; then Wiliam Kirkby, another butcher; with a bacon dealer, whose name is lost, adjoining - to all of which the fronts were set back beneath a pent roof with the usual unglazed, but wooden shuttered windows. Adjoining was the house of Dr. Kitchen, with a room on either side of the entrance brought forward to the front of the pent roof, with glazed windows; and lastly, Thomas Lonsdale's ironmongery shop, which extended round the north front to the stone steps that led upwards to the gallery. On the west side, above some small dwellings, was a large room called the "Cordwainers Hall" belonging to the last incorporated body of tradesmen in the town.

It is not difficult to realise the abiding nuisance that this obstruction must have been to the traffic of the town; and it becomes a pleasing duty to record how that the Lady Andover, ever anxious to work for the welfare and interests of Kendal, repeatedly declared that if Lord Lonsdale would but take a torch and set fire to his end of the building, she was ready to do the same to her's. But it would seem that the Earl, having no great love for the town, which he could not politically subdue, was relentless in his opposition. Accordingly it remained until his death in 1803, when it was instantly given over to the Corporation by his successor and the Hon. Mrs. Howard, in order that its obstruction might at once be removed. Unfortunately Mr. Hogg and his camera were not there at the time to take an accurate view of the building, so that we must be forever indebted to John Richardson for his drawing taken from memory in 1845 at the age of 71 years. It will be seen that his perspective is far from being good, in that he makes the cramped western passage appear as if it were a boulevard, and his shading lines on the east elevation are so scarce, that the feeling of the lower story, retreating some four or five feet underneath its pent roof, is lost forever.

Before, the street was just wide enough, so it is quaintly said, to keep people straight as they went home in the dark; but by the removal of this ancient building the thoroughfare bacame, as the Newcastle papers at that time said, one of the largest and most spacious streets of any town in the North of England.