The History of Fish Hook Making in Kendal and the Birth of Modern Fishing Tackle

When most anglers think of a classic fish hook they are frequently inadvertently thinking of a design that originates from one place: Kendal.

Long before mass production and multi-national tackle manufacturers Kendal was regarded the best town in the world for making fish hooks. From the mid 1700s until the early 1900s this market town in the Lake District gained a reputation for quality, inventiveness and workmanship. He was the creator of the legendary Kendal fish hook, a pioneer of early fishing tackle systems and a designer of the gear used by anglers today.

Kendal became recognised for a number of notable hook developments including the Kirby, Sproat and Pennell hook types.

More strikingly, the Kendal hook design never died out. Today, large manufacturers like Mustad are still making it, a testament to the influence of Kendal's discoveries.

So let's take a look at how Kendal became the world's capital of fishing equipment, and why its legacy still counts every time an angler casts a line.

Why Kendal Became the World's Hook-Making Capital

Kendal's rise was no accident. Positioned on the edge of the Lake District, one of the richest fishing regions in the United Kingdom, the town had direct access to rivers, lakes, and tarns filled with:

• Trout
• Salmon
• Pike
• Perch
• Char

With such variety, local anglers required specialised hooks and tackle. That demand naturally encouraged innovation.

At a time when most hooks were handmade and inconsistent, Kendal craftsmen began refining designs, improving strength, and standardising hook patterns. Over time, Kendal did not simply meet demand — it established the global benchmark.

Early Fish Hooks Before Kendal (1600s–1700s)

Before Kendal took the lead, fish hooks were far from uniform. Anglers frequently shaped their own hooks, meaning:

• Sizes varied considerably
• Hook bends lacked consistency
• Performance was unreliable

One of the earliest major breakthroughs came from Charles Kirby, who began producing hooks in London around 1650. His famous Kirby bend became one of the first standardised hook shapes and remains recognised today.

However, despite Kirby's influence, hook making remained fragmented until Kendal transformed the industry.

The Start of Kendal Hook Making (c.1745)

Around 1745, Thomas Adlington established one of the first fish hook manufacturing businesses in Kendal. This marked the true beginning of the town's rise within the fishing industry.

Adlington's hooks quickly developed a reputation for:

• Strength
• Consistency
• Precision

The business remained within the family, passing from Thomas to his son John Adlington, and later to another Thomas Adlington.

This continuity allowed techniques to be refined over generations, becoming one of the defining characteristics of Kendal craftsmanship.

1829–1834: The Birth of Adlington & Hutchinson

A significant turning point came with the death of Thomas Adlington on 26th February 1829.

His son, George Adlington, was too young to take over the company, so responsibility passed to Philip Hutchinson, the firm's foreman.

By 1834, George had come of age and officially partnered with Hutchinson, forming:

Adlington & Hutchinson – Fishhook and Tackle Makers, Kendal

This partnership marked the beginning of Kendal's dominance in global hook production.

Kendal's First Fishing Tackle Brand

Adlington & Hutchinson were not simply hook makers — they became one of the earliest complete fishing tackle brands.

By the 1830s, they were producing a full range of fishing equipment, including:

• Fishing rods (screw-fit, slide, and multi-piece designs)
• Artificial flies and bait
• Reels, including multiplying reels
• Gut lines and trolling lines
• Landing nets and baskets
• Hooks for numerous species

This represented an important moment in angling history.

Kendal became home to one of the earliest fully integrated fishing tackle brands and one of the first places where fishing rods were commercially manufactured alongside hooks.

In many respects, this marked the beginning of the modern tackle industry.

The Kendal Hook: A World-Leading Design

Throughout the 1800s, Kendal hooks became recognised worldwide.

They were so highly regarded that:

• Anglers specifically requested "Kendal hooks"
• The town became synonymous with quality
• Kendal rivalled Limerick as a global hook-making centre

The Kendal Hook Scale

Kendal even developed its own sizing system:

• No. 00 = smallest
• No. 20 = largest

This reversed numbering system was unique and further reinforced Kendal's independence and innovation.

If You Drew a Fish Hook, It Probably Came from Kendal

The most common shape of fish hook you see now is significantly influenced by designs developed in Kendal.

From the curve of the bend to the angle of the point, Kendal's improvements helped define the look of a correctly built hook.

Even contemporary hooks for carp, bass, trout and predator angling are still influenced by the Kendal handmade design.

Key Innovations from Kendal Hook Makers

Kendal was not simply producing hooks — it was reinventing them.

1. The Sproat Bend (1865)

The Sproat bend was introduced in 1865 and enhanced hook penetration and strength.

It was initially extensively praised by respectable angling writers and continues to influence hook design today.

2. The Pennell Hook (1870)

By 1870, Hutchinson & Son were manufacturing a hook by Cholmondeley-Pennell that incorporated the best aspects of current hook forms.

"This showed how Kendal manufacturers worked hand in hand with top anglers to enhance performance and reliability."

3. The Eyed Dry Fly Hook (1879)

In 1879, Kendal played an important role in developing the eyed hook for fly fishing.

Before this innovation, flies were tied directly onto gut. The new design allowed:

• Easier fly attachment
• Greater flexibility
• Improved performance

This development helped shape modern fly fishing as we know it today.

Hutchinson & Son: A Global Reputation (1800s)

Following George Adlington's death in 1839, the business became P. Hutchinson, later evolving into Hutchinson & Son.

By the late 1800s, the company had:

• Built a factory on Aynam Road
• Expanded its workforce
• Established a worldwide reputation

Their hooks became known for one quality above all else:

Reliability.

Anglers trusted them because they held firm under pressure — something that still defines an excellent hook today.

Beyond Hooks: Kendal's Wider Tackle Industry

Kendal's influence extended well beyond hook making.

Fishing Rod Manufacturing

As early as 1834, Kendal manufacturers were producing:

• Multi-piece travel rods
• Screw-fit rods
• Slide rods

This was hugely significant.

Kendal helped pioneer the idea of portable and practical fishing rods, something that directly connects to modern travel rods today.

Artificial Flies and Local Patterns

Kendal makers also produced:

• North Country flies
• Lake-specific patterns such as the Windermere
• Sea trout flies including the Eden and Malham

These patterns reflected local knowledge, fishing conditions, and regional expertise — another example of innovation shaped by environment and experience.

The Quill Minnow (1873)

The quill minnow was one of the early artificial spinning lures, invented in 1873 by Kendal-born James Garnett.

It showed that artificial lures might be just as effective as real bait and kick started modern-day lure fishing.

Decline of Kendal Hook Making (1900–1934)

Despite its enormous success, Kendal's hook-making industry faced growing challenges during the early 1900s, including:

• Competition from large-scale manufacturers in Redditch
• Industrial mass production
• Increasing standardisation of hook sizes

By the 1920s, the industry had begun to decline.

In 1934, Charles Hutchinson closed the company following a final sale, bringing nearly 200 years of hook making in Kendal to an end.

The Kendal Hook Lives On Today

The Kendal hook never truly disappeared.

Today, major global manufacturers such as Mustad still produce hooks based on traditional Kendal patterns.

That means:

• You can still purchase a Kendal hook today
• The design continues to be trusted by anglers worldwide
• Kendal's influence remains present throughout modern tackle

In fact, if you pick up a modern fishing hook today, there is a strong chance its shape has been influenced by Kendal designs.

Kendal's Lasting Impact on Modern Angling

Kendal did not simply manufacture hooks — it helped shape angling as we know it today.

What Kendal Gave the Fishing World

• The Kendal fish hook design
• Early fishing rod manufacturing
• The concept of a complete tackle brand
• Innovations such as the Sproat bend and eyed hooks
• A global standard for quality and reliability

For more than a century, Kendal set the benchmark for the fishing tackle industry.

From Kendal to Modern Travel Fishing

The concept of portable, multi-piece rods first seen in Kendal during the 1800s remains central to modern fishing.

Today, companies such as Rigged and Ready continue that same philosophy through innovations including:

• Super-compact, multi-functional rods
• X Series Travel Rods designed for spin and fly fishing
• Smuggler Series rods built for travelling anglers
• Predator Series rods designed for versatility across species

The goal remains exactly the same as it was in Kendal generations ago:

Go Anywhere and Fish Everywhere

Final Thoughts

The story of Kendal is one of craftsmanship, invention and lasting influence.

Kendal helped to design the equipment that fishermen still use today, from its origins around 1745, to its world fame in the 1800s, to the industry's downfall in 1934.

Perhaps the most wonderful thing of all is that the Kendal hook is still there.

Still used.

Still trusted.

Still helping define what a fishing hook should be.

So the next time you tie on a hook, remember:

That design did not simply appear by chance — it was forged in Kendal.