Ставлей-ин-Кендале: История и современность кумрийской деревни

the village near Kendal, Cumbria

Staveley is a village in the South Lakeland district, in Cumbria, England. Historically part of Westmorland, it is situated 4 mile (6 km) northwest of Kendal where the River Kent is joined by its tributary the Gowan. It is also known as Staveley in Westmorland and Staveley in Kendal to distinguish it from Staveley in Cartmel (a small village near Newby Bridge which is now in Cumbria but was previously in Lancashire). There are three civil parishes – Nether Staveley, Over Staveley and Hugill (part). Their total population at the 2011 Census was 1,593 but this includes those living in the hamlet of Ings in Hugill parish.

The Gowan, a tributary of the Kent, comes into the village from the west after passing through the village of Ings. There is sometimes flooding at the confluence. There are two road bridges and also pedestrian bridges over the River Gowan in the village. As a result of the Storm Desmond flood both the road bridges were closed because of damage to their structures, cutting the village in two for vehicular traffic. The Station Road / Abbey Square bridge was reopened after minor repairs. Gowan Old Bridge, a twin arch stone bridge with attached concrete footbridge near the confluence of the rivers, had severe damage to its central pier and remained closed. It was demolished in June 2016, after the re routing of the gas main. A new single span concrete beam bridge was constructed to replace it and opened on May 18, 2017.

In the Middle Ages, the mills at Staveley produced woollen cloth. During the Industrial Revolution there was cotton production at Staveley, and there is an 18th century mill building from this time. The cotton industry shifted to Lancashire, and the Staveley mills were converted to work wood. By 1850 bobbin turning was the main industry in the valley. While there is no longer any bobbin production, there are a carpentry businesses in the village including Peter Hall.

At the weir by Wilf's Cafe visitors can see water being drawn from the River Kent, which originally powered a waterwheel, replaced in 1902 with turbines.

A conservation area protects much of Staveley. Originally designated to protect the centre of village, it was expanded in the 21st century, and crosses the River Kent to take in Staveley Park. Staveley has a number of listed buildings, including its oldest building, a tower, all that remains of a medieval church dedicated to St Margaret. The structure is maintained as a clock tower: on it is a plaque commemorating the Staveley men of F Company, Second V B Border Regiment, who served in the South Africa Campaign of 1900–01 under Major John Thompson. In 1338 the then Lord of the Manor, Sir William Thweng agreed to build a church. Before this the villagers had been expected to travel 7 miles to Kendal each Sunday for services. The church, completed in 1388, was replaced by a new parish church, built in 1864–65 to a design by J. S. Crowther. This Victorian church, dedicated to St James, is notable for the stained glass windows at the east end, which were designed by Sir Edward Burne Jones and made by Morris and Co. They depict the Crucifixion and Ascension of Christ surrounded by angels and stars. One of the angels was used for the Royal Mail's second class Christmas stamp in 2009.

There is a small Catholic church, now disused, situated on Station Road. There are two former chapels, which were Wesleyan Methodist and Primitive Methodist prior to Methodist Union in 1932. They have been converted for residential use.

Staveley CE Primary School was founded in 1755 and moved to its present position at Brow Lane on Reston Scar in 1840. A new building was built 30 years ago to house the infant classes. The school also caters for children from the nearby villages of Crook, Kentmere and Ings. Before the modern day school that exists now, the school used to be housed in a small cottage on Main Street next to St. Margaret's Tower.

The intimate (48 seat capacity) Staveley Roundhouse (a former gas holder) provides year round entertainment in the form of plays, art exhibitions, music and quiz nights.