Branthwaite Brow

Today's the day ................................. to widen the street

This interesting building in Branthwaite Brow, a cobbled street which leads up to the Market Place in Kendal, is faced with cast-iron plates that give it a very geometric look.

In 1853, the front of the building was cut away and then replaced with the plates to save space as part of a street widening scheme ordered by the Board of Health. It's a fine, very early example of this use of iron and most unusual in a rural town.

They were cast by a Kendal iron founder by the name of Joseph Winder. It is recorded that when one of the one-inch thick iron plates was being hoisted into place, it slipped and crashed on to the feet of one of his employees - William Wilkinson - lacerating them in a shocking manner.

Poor William Wilkinson - it sounds very painful. No Health & Safety, I suppose, in those days ....................................