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Kirkby Lonsdale is a small and relatively unspoilt market town situated on the River Lune in the Westmorland and Furness district of Cumbria, close to the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and the Forest of Bowland. The town of Kirkby Lonsdale grew at a crossing point over the River Lune, where drovers' and pack-horse routes converged. It is one of the few towns in Cumbria that is mentioned in the 1086 Domesday Book, where it is referred to as Cherchibi, meaning a village with a church.

In 1227, the town was granted a market charter and the right to hold an annual fair. Every week, stallholders gathered on Market Street to sell their goods, while horse traders and pig sellers congregated in Horsemarket and Swinemarket, respectively. This led to Kirkby Lonsdale becoming a bustling town, with 29 inns and alehouses, of which eight remain today.