A New View of Lake District Geology, Past and Present, at Kendal Museum, England: A Case Study in Community Involvement
Authors
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Peter C. Lincoln
*
1
- Ila Colley 2
Abstract
In 2023, the geological collection at Kendal Museum in north-west England was redisplayed to (i) draw attention to Kendal’s links to the earliest geological exploration of the English Lake District and (ii) provide an accessible guide to current interpretations of that area’s complex geology. The project, although implemented by a professional geological design partnership, was instigated and managed by the Westmorland Geological Society working with staff at the Museum. Funded from the Museum’s budget together with grants secured by the Society, the work was completed in time for opening at the Geologists’ Association Annual Conference—held in Kendal in September 2023 to mark the Westmorland Society’s 50th anniversary. The intention was to use the Museum’s historic collection of local fossils and its close links with figures such as Adam Sedgwick to stimulate interest in the geology of the area and encourage inquiry through leaflets describing Cumbria GeoConservation’s geological trails. This case study of a small, community-driven project demonstrates one way that local enthusiasm and expertise can help overcome severe budgetary constraints faced by many museums.
Graphical Abstract
