Abbot Hall is a lovely Georgian manor situated in the shadow of Kendal Castle beside the River Kent in the village of Kendal. Some time in the 14th or 15th centuries a building was erected here to serve as lodging for the Abbot of the Abbey of St. Mary's in York, which held the parish church. That building was destroyed in the Dissolution of the Monasteries, but a new Hall was built in the late Elizabethan period.
In 1759 George Wilson bought the propery and surrounding estates, and built a new mansion in the georgian style on the site. In 1897 the Hall was purchased by the Kendal Corporation (i.e. the town government) and the grounds were opened to the public as a riverside park.
Finally, in the latter half of the 20th century the house underwent major restoration and was transformed into the current art gallery featuring local artists. The collection includes works by such artists as Romney, Turner, Ruskin, Ben Nicholson, Auerbach, Bridget Riley and Tony Bevan. In addition, there is a regular program of touring exhibits by contemporary British artists.
