K Shoes Heritage Centre
For over 160 years high quality shoes and boots were manufactured at Kendal’s ‘K’ Shoe Factory. This unique heritage will be celebrated as an integral part of the new K Village development.
Philip Weir, Project Director, Kendal Riverside Ltd explains, “The new Heritage Centre will play a key role in the regeneration of the former K Shoe Factory site. It is our aim to create a high quality museum which will be a worthwhile visitor attraction in its own right. To this end, we have brought together a first class team of experts to turn our vision into reality.”
“Bowker Sadler, specialist exhibition space designers and exhibition, graphics consultants CNJ Media Kendal have been appointed to assist in the design and layout of the displays. Whilst we have retained renowned local author and historian, Audrey Salkeld, to research the project and direct the development of the Centre. We are also indebted to Mr J T Somervell whose personal knowledge and collection of artefacts has been invaluable. As part of her research Ms Salkeld has also spent some time with Clarks Curator in Street and we are very grateful to Clarks for their co-operation and support.
In essence the Heritage Centre tell the story of shoe making in- how life has changed over the 160 years, both for employees of ‘K’ Shoes and also the influence the factory had on the development of the wider community. By charting the social and economic influence of such a major contributor to the local economy, a picture will be painted of what it was like to live, work and play within a stones throw of the factory gates.
Visitors to K Village will be aware of the Heritage Centre as soon as they come through the main doors as the bespoke arched entrance is well placed beside the Visitor Information Centre. A dedicated lift will bring visitors straight into the Heritage Centre on the first floor which is in a prime location opening out onto an attractively landscaped courtyard. The main exhibition space will feature film footage and display material telling the story of shoe design, manufacturing and production as well as Kendal itself.
In addition, two separate rooms have been allocated to the Heritage offering. One of these will be an archive room which will enable the collection of additional exhibition pieces and facilitate more frequent refreshment of displays. The second room will be a workspace area which will be of great educational value to schools, historians and those people who were a part of the K Village and its history.
Philip Weir concludes, “The Heritage Centre will represent an investment of over £500,000 and we hope that the local community will agree that its design, content and style will do justice to the story of K Shoes and Kendal.”
