Lakeland Style

Lakeland style is the name given to a flavoring tradition rooted in the town of Kendal in northwestern England. The term describes not a single blend but a style: a pronounced layer of essence drawn from the world of flowers and perfume is laid over the tobacco's own taste. Kendal's proximity to the Lake District is the source of this naming.

The Origin of the Kendal Tradition

Snuff production in the town is dated to 1792. According to the records, Thomas Harrison brought the snuff-making knowledge he had learned in Glasgow, along with secondhand machinery, to Kendal. The business passed by marriage to Samuel Gawith in the following generation, and on his death in 1865 to his sons. In later years the business split in two: one branch carries the name Samuel Gawith today, while Gawith Hoggarth & Co. emerged from the partnership the family's youngest son, William Henry Gawith, formed with Henry Hoggarth in 1887. Both firms still carry on production in Kendal.

That this tradition comes from snuff is no coincidence. The scenting knowledge used in snuff production was applied in the same workshops to pipe tobacco as well. Some Lakeland recipes are believed to have carried on since the 19th century with only minor changes.