The smell of history at Farrers is as strong as the aroma of the tea and coffee. Steeped in history and tales, this stunning grade two listed 17th Century building is the original Farrer’s Tea & Coffee House. 

Where for over two centuries we have been dealing in fine selected loose leaf teas and fresh roasted artisan coffee in the market town of Kendal, the gateway to the English Lake District.

The huge tea counter inside the main entrance is listed and so are the 20 original tea canisters behind it, which are still used to this day! The original coffee grinder from 1853 still has pride of place in the centre of the shop, presumably some one with big muscles used to operate it such is the size! There are many original features still around the building such as the creaking floorboards. The old English oak that had gone through their long sea voyages 300 years ago. Every day here in Farrer’s dozens, scores, sometimes hundreds of people walk these planks and yet they still will look good for another century.

In 1819 when Mr John Farrer purchased the business here at 13 Stricklandgate dealing in tea, coffee, cocoa and refined sugar. It is believed he was placed in business by William Farrer, a relative from Liverpool who was a rich merchant and importer of tea and coffee. John & Ann Farrer from Grayrigg, married in 1809 and had two sons, one being John Farrer II in 1812.

The Farrer family, like many Lakeland business people at the time were devout Quakers. John Farrer II grew up to work in the family business. In 1839 John married Tamar Crossfield with whom he had four daughters. Traditionally in those days businesses were not handed down to women, so in 1886 when John Farrer II retired he transferred the business to his nephews, Joseph & Edward Farrer, sons of his younger brother Isaac.

Over the following years it is believed to have been transferred to the Watson side of the family, through several generations until it was sold on to independent owners in the 1900’s.

The building dates back to 1637 when originally it was a house occupied by George & Mary Wilson. It became a pack horse inn called The Wagon and Horses Inn around the 1670’s where patrons could rest whilst passing through the bustling market town of Kendal.

In early 1800 Joseph Fallows first started a business on the premises dealing in tea, coffee, cocoa and refined sugar. It was later purchased in 1819 by John Farrer, when it then became known by its present title.

Original features can be found around the building such as the main fireplace in the downstairs cafe dated 1644. The original Victorian coffee grinder dates back to 1853 along with the listed brass tea canisters numbered 1 to 20 and a sales ledger dated from 1856. The original floorboards were reclaimed from the Merchant Clipper ships arriving back into local ports.

In 1822 the building was re-fronted by local architect George Webster. It was not until 1951 it became a grade II listed building, mainly for the 17th Century interior features such as the staircases, fireplaces, doors, tea bins and the panelled tea counter.

Jack Ferguson, born 26th November, 1924. On leaving school at age 14 he started work at Farrers. At the out break of the war, Jacks father was posted abroad leaving Jack looking after the family.

Whilst working at Farrer’s he became a Police runner and also  joined the Army Cadets in which he was promoted to Lance Corporal. At the age of 18 he volunteered to join the RAF as air crew as was accepted February 1943. Having no qualifications, Jack had to work hard to become a Flight Engineer. After training he was posted on the 20th November 1943 to Wratting Common, a Cambridge airfield close to Suffolk to join 1651 Heavy Conversion Unit. Jack was now Sargent, after a five week training course to become a flight engineer for Flt. Sgt. Birnie of ‘A’ flight, Jack and his crew moved to RAF Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire to convert from the Stirling aircraft to the Lancaster Mk II. On 28th January 1944 they moved to RAF Witchford to join 115 Squadron as Operational Crew. Sadly the crew were embarking on what proved to be a very short operational life span. 115 Squadron suffered the most casualties of any operational bomber squadron during the Second World War.

On the night of 18th/19th April 1944, Jack’s aircraft, Flight No. KO-R LL667 took off with the rest of the 155 flight squadron to attack the railway yards at Rouen in France. Having dropped their bombs, 26 aircraft of 115 Squadron turned and headed for home. On returning to Witchford the aircraft were stacked in readiness for landing. Jack and his crew were unaware that a German night fighter had followed them back to their base. Their aircraft was suddenly struck by cannon fire and dived in to the ground, sadly killing everyone on board.

Jack was buried in Parkside Cemetery in his home town of Kendal. In August 1995 the remains of his aircraft were found in a field where it had crashed near Witchford. The remains were excavated and now on display at a small museum in Wichtford which was formerly the RAF Base.

Charles Ernest Travis, born in Kendal in 1889. Charles was employed as an Assistant Tea Maker for Mr Edward Farrer after leaving school and worked at Farrers until he enlisted in the Border Regiment at the outbreak of World War One. On 2nd June 1913 Ernest married Eleanor Mary Pattison, the young couple could only have spent a short time together before being separated by war.

In 1916 he joined the border regiment and in his first three months he gained his Marksman’s badge and the rank of Lance Corporal. He spent four months on The Somme where he saw a great deal of fighting at the front. In spite of this, his letters were cheerful and showed he was intent on his duty as a solider.

At the age of 27 on the 23rd October 1916, his dug out was hit by a shell and he was sadly killed instantly. His wife later received a letter dated 2nd November 1916 from Captain Ewbank which ended with the words “Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends”.

After the war a copper plaque was erected by Farrers in his memory. He is one of 25 men who were killed in action in the first world war and commemorated on a plaque at St. Oswald’s Church, Burneside.

Today, Farrer’s Tea & Coffee House remains an independent family run business. Owned by the Grace family since 1990 and is now in its second generation. The business has grown over the years, to host a traditional Lakeland cafe and a shop stocking an extensive range of loose leaf teas, freshly roasted coffee and a large range of hardware and local gifts.

Farrers still holds its roots to serving freshly roasted coffee to traditional standards and sourcing fine selected teas from around the world. The roastery John Farrer & Co. remains in Kendal, supplying Farrers Tea & Coffee House with the fresh roasted coffee along with other businesses around the lakes and beyond.