THE story behind one of Ulverston’s grand houses and most influential families is being told in a talk on Thursday.

Robert Wheatley takes the topic of The Kennedy's of Stone Cross in a presentation to members and visitors to Askam and Ireleth Local History Group.

The talk is being held at the Duddon Road Methodist Church, Askam, from 7.30pm and all are welcome.

The long family link with Ulverston starts with Charles Storr Kennedy.

In 1820 the Essex man married Elizabeth Burton, whose father Myles lived at Fair View, Ulverston – later to be a Kennedy family home.

Charles prospected for iron ore in Furness and was hopeful of making money from Roanhead, near Barrow.

He died at Fair View, aged 60, in 1857 – leaving it to his sons Charles Burton Kennedy and Myles Kennedy to develop the mines.

Charles was at Fair View, until he died in 1865, aged just 31.

Myles had Stone Cross mansion built after deciding against buying Conishead Priory.

The mansion was designed by James Wright Grundy, with some possible influences of the Lancaster architectural firm Paley and Austin.

It was built by the Dalton firm of James garden.

Work had been started in 1874 and was completed around 1879.

Myles was not to enjoy his success for long and died aged 47 at Stone Cross on march 13 in 1883.

Under the terms of the will, the mansion was put up for sale in 1888 and again in 1896.

A deal must have been struck between the children for it was to stay in Kennedy family occupation until 1943.

It was used by the military until the end of the Second World War and was the sold to Lancashire County Council in 1946 for conversion into a residential school.

The house was restored in the 1980s to be used by LED lighting company Marl International.

Vandalism and a major fire in 2004 saw the mansion reduced to a poor state but there are plans to bring housing to the mansion and grounds.