Postman Pat
Greendale, the village where Postman Pat delivers his mail, may be a model but it’s based on Longsleddale near Kendal. The narrow, twisting roads and sheep frequently featuring in storylines are a giveaway that it’s Cumbria.

Postman Pat's creator, John Cunliffe, dreamed up the stories while he lived in Kendal.

Ey up!

John Cunliffe has become a local celebrity and had a room at Kendal’s Museum of Lakeland Life devoted to him. This was closed down but Cunliffe still has a presence in Kendal - you can see him in the centre of the Millennium Frieze on display in Kendal Library.

Postman Pat is now 20 years old. In November 2001, Ivor Wood sold his company which produced the show for £5.1m.

John Cunliffe tells us about the creation of Postman Pat.

Thomas the Tank Engine
Still successful, this series was created by Reverend W V Awdry in 1946.

When readers started to ask where the characters lived, Awdry needed to create a location. He ‘discovered’ the Isle of Sodor for Thomas and his friends to inhabit.

Awdry came across the unusual name one summer. He stayed on the Isle of Man and met the island’s bishop - the Bishop of Sodor and Man. ‘Sodor’ is an area in South-West Scotland but the name isn’t used any more.

The fictional Isle of Sodor lies between Walney Island and the Isle of Man. It’s huge - much larger than the Furness area of Cumbria.

The Awdry family website displays a map of the Isle of Sodor.

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Bagpuss
Extremely tenuous link to Cumbria - currently the music rights for Bagpuss are held at Fellside Recordings in Workington. They produce the CD of music from the series. Sorry if we got your hopes up with this one.

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