Stramongate

Today's the day ..................... for the tallest window in town

Stramongate is a very ancient road in the town of Kendal. There are two suggested explanations for the meaning of this rather strange name. One is 'The Street of Straw Men' (dealers in straw) and the other is 'The Stream Mound Street' referring to an embankment to defend the lower part from constant flooding. Either could be possible in this case as it is very near to the River Kent.

It used to be a street of inns, most of which no longer exist - and it was always a busy thoroughfare, part of the A6 road to Scotland. A weekly street market was held there - and still is today.

This house in Stramongate was originally called 'The Cross House' and it has a tall case window at the side - the best specimen of what is known as a 'Westmorland' window in Kendal. A window tax was imposed in 1697 on the number of windows in houses. Having only one window to light several floors avoided much of the tax ...................