The Castle Dairy facts for kids

The Castle Dairy in Kendal. It's a very old house that was once a special home for widows of the Barony.

The Castle Dairy is a very old building in Kendal, Cumbria. It's from the Middle Ages, which was a long time ago! Its name suggests it might be connected to Kendal Castle. Some people think it's the oldest building in Kendal that people have lived in without stopping.

This building is so special that it's called a Grade I listed building, which means it's protected by law because of its history. Today, it's a restaurant. You can find The Castle Dairy on Wildman Street, close to Stramongate Bridge. It might even have a link to the bridge!

What Does The Castle Dairy Look Like?

This building has two floors. Its outside walls are made of rough stones, called 'coursed rubble.' It also has special corner stones, called 'quoins,' which make it strong.

Inside, there's a main hall in the middle with extra rooms, like 'wings,' on each side. The building still has many old parts, like cool carvings, old fireplaces, and original windows. People say the inside is very well preserved, meaning it looks a lot like it did long ago.

Upstairs, there's a small chapel. It has a window from the 1300s, and some say it's the smallest window in all of Kendal!

The Castle Dairy's Early History

We're not totally sure what the building was first used for. It might have been a farmhouse or a private home. The word 'dairy' in its name might actually come from the word dowry. A dowry was money or property given to a wife. So, some people think this house was once a home for a widow.

Around the year 1560, a man named Anthony Garnett made many changes to the building. You can still see parts of these changes today.

How The Castle Dairy Was Saved

For many years, The Castle Dairy was a restaurant. But it closed in 2007 and started to fall apart. In 2010, Historic England put it on a list of 'Heritage at Risk' buildings. This meant it needed help!

South Lakeland District Council asked Kendal College if they could use the building as part of their campus. From March to September 2011, a lot of work was done to fix it up. This project cost about £200,000! Money came from English Heritage, the local council, the college, and two other groups: the Savoy Trust and Lakeland Vintners.

The Castle Dairy opened again in October 2011. A famous historian named David Starkey, who grew up in Kendal, helped celebrate its reopening. Now, The Castle Dairy is an art gallery and a restaurant run by Kendal College. Students learning about cooking and hospitality prepare the food there!