Local Sponsors
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The Albion Snooker & Social Club Kendal
Sandes Avenue (behind Home Designs) Kendal LA9 4LL
The Albion Snooker and Social Club Kendal, Members only Club, guests welcome at £1.50 a visit. 9 top snooker tables, 4 excellent pool tables and darts.
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St John Ambulance
27 St John's Lane, London. EC1M
St John Ambulance is the nation’s leading first aid charity. Every year, more than 400,000 people learn how to save a life through our training programmes, including hundreds of thousands of young people. Our volunteers provide first aid in their communities, keeping people safe at events, and working alongside the NHS in response to 999 calls. We’re also always campaigning to raise awareness of first aid and directly educate the public.
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South Cumbria Rivers Trust
The Clock Tower Business Centre Low Wood, Ulverston, Cumbria. LA12 8LY
We are a Registered Charity (no. 1114682) whose purpose is to protect, conserve and rehabilitate the aquatic environments of South Cumbria. The main rivers in our area are the Kent, Leven, Bela, Crake and Duddon as well as the many smaller rivers. We also have some significant still waters in our area including Windermere, Coniston, Grasmere, Rydal, and Esthwaite.
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Many thanks to The Albion Snooker & Social Club and St John Ambulance for facilitating this camera's location. Kendal, a town situated along the River Kent, boasts a total of five road bridges. Among these are three notable stone arch structures, an iron bridge named Victoria Bridge, which was erected in 1887 to commemorate the Queen's Jubilee, and a modern bridge commonly referred to as Batman/Bat Bridge. Additionally, the river is traversed within the town by a bridge accommodating the Windermere branch line, three footbridges, and five bridges that support major roads. Furthermore, just upstream of the railway bridge stands a suspension footbridge, constructed in 1993 utilizing components from the former Romney footbridge, which had been dismantled and replaced by the Romney road bridge in the southern part of the town.The first road bridge, Victoria Bridge, is constructed of iron and carries the A6 road. Constructed in 1887, this bridge was built to commemorate Queen Victoria's jubilee. Following this is Stramongate Bridge, featuring four arches, with its origins tracing back to 1794, incorporating fragments of an earlier bridge dating back to the 17th century. Historical records from 1379 refer to a bridge at this location as "De ponte de Strowmondgate." Immediately downstream of Stramongate Bridge lies Stramongate weir.Gooseholme footbridge, which endured destruction during floods in 1898 but was subsequently reconstructed, suffered damage once more in December 2015 due to flooding. After a thorough inspection, it was closed in January 2016 and eventually demolished in September 2019 due to significant safety concerns. Plans for a replacement were delayed due to uncertainties surrounding the Environment Agency's flood defense improvement measures in the area. However, a new single-span cable-stayed bridge is likely to replace it, eliminating the obstruction caused by its piers in the river bed.Miller Bridge, which carries the A65 road, was originally a wooden bridge serving as a connection to Castle corn mill. Due to recurrent flood damage, it was replaced with a stone bridge in 1743. The present bridge, designed by architect Francis Webster, was constructed to facilitate convenient access to the terminus of the Lancaster Canal, which was under construction at the time. In November 1818, the bridge was opened, followed by the completion of the canal in June 1819.Jennings Yard footbridge, another victim of the 1898 floods, underwent reconstruction and was later replaced between 1972 and 1978 as part of a flood alleviation scheme, resulting in a significant expansion of the river width at that location.Nether Bridge, parts of which originate from the 17th century, has undergone widening over the years. The original bridge occupies the downstream side, while an extension added in 1772 forms the central section, and the upstream side was incorporated in 1908. The distinct stages of development are clearly observable within the arches.Lastly, the modern construction known as Romney Bridge replaced the former Romney footbridge. Erected in 1993, it coincided with the relocation of the suspension footbridge to the northern part of the town.
The River Kent holds the distinction of being a designated Special Area of Conservation, encompassing an expansive area of 269.6 acres (109.12 ha). This designation is primarily due to its critical role as a habitat for the White-clawed Crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes), an endangered species. The Kent's tributaries, in particular, support thriving populations of this species, with densities surpassing most other regions in England. Additionally, the river serves as a significant site for the presence of bullhead and the endangered freshwater pearl mussel. Its classification as a watercourse spanning from plain to montane levels signifies the prevalence of water-crowfoot and water starwort populations, which, during summer, create expansive floating mats adorned with white flowers. These mats provide essential nourishment and shelter for fish and invertebrates.The river boasts notable quantities of three game fish species: salmon, brown trout, and sea trout. The Kent Angling Association, established in 1848, governs fishing activities along an approximately 8-mile (13 km) stretch around Kendal. In 1986, fish ladders were constructed alongside mill-pond dams to facilitate the migration of fish to upper sections of the river. This development significantly benefited salmon, as they swiftly embraced the newly accessible breeding grounds. Consequently, the river section above Bowston has become pivotal for the nurturing of juvenile salmon. While fish ladders have proven effective, removing certain weirs could potentially enhance the overall health of the river and, specifically, its fish populations. Notably, in 2022, approval was granted for the removal of a 19th-century weir located at Bowston.Since 1989, a comprehensive fish counter has been in operation at Basinghyll, spanning the entire width of the river. Initially, the counter could detect the passage of fish and determine their direction of travel but lacked the capability to identify individual species. However, efforts were made by the Environment Agency to employ underwater cameras for species identification. In 2013, funding from DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) was announced to facilitate the installation of eel passes at Stramongate weir in Kendal and the Basinghyll fish counter. These eel passes were successfully implemented in July 2013.
The River Kent holds the distinction of being a designated Special Area of Conservation, encompassing an expansive area of 269.6 acres (109.12 ha). This designation is primarily due to its critical role as a habitat for the White-clawed Crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes), an endangered species. The Kent's tributaries, in particular, support thriving populations of this species, with densities surpassing most other regions in England. Additionally, the river serves as a significant site for the presence of bullhead and the endangered freshwater pearl mussel. Its classification as a watercourse spanning from plain to montane levels signifies the prevalence of water-crowfoot and water starwort populations, which, during summer, create expansive floating mats adorned with white flowers. These mats provide essential nourishment and shelter for fish and invertebrates.The river boasts notable quantities of three game fish species: salmon, brown trout, and sea trout. The Kent Angling Association, established in 1848, governs fishing activities along an approximately 8-mile (13 km) stretch around Kendal. In 1986, fish ladders were constructed alongside mill-pond dams to facilitate the migration of fish to upper sections of the river. This development significantly benefited salmon, as they swiftly embraced the newly accessible breeding grounds. Consequently, the river section above Bowston has become pivotal for the nurturing of juvenile salmon. While fish ladders have proven effective, removing certain weirs could potentially enhance the overall health of the river and, specifically, its fish populations. Notably, in 2022, approval was granted for the removal of a 19th-century weir located at Bowston.Since 1989, a comprehensive fish counter has been in operation at Basinghyll, spanning the entire width of the river. Initially, the counter could detect the passage of fish and determine their direction of travel but lacked the capability to identify individual species. However, efforts were made by the Environment Agency to employ underwater cameras for species identification. In 2013, funding from DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) was announced to facilitate the installation of eel passes at Stramongate weir in Kendal and the Basinghyll fish counter. These eel passes were successfully implemented in July 2013.