About Sleepy Elephant
Sleepy Elephant occupies the ground floor of what once may have been an old 'tower house' on Sedbergh's Main Street.
The name 'Sleepy Elephant' refers to a comment made by the writer A. Wainwright who wrote that the neighbouring Howgill Fells were 'often likened to a huddle of squatting elephants'. However, when the current business was set up, it was felt that 'sleepy elephant;' might be more appealing.
Some years ago, when the shop was a chemist's, it was featured on the BBC Television series 'The House Detectives'. The programme's experts thought the building might go back as far as the early fifteenth century.
Sleepy Elephant is now the place in Sedbergh for walking boots and other outdoor essentials.
Carole Nelson, proprietor of Sleepy Elephant, spent forty years in the outdoor clothing industry, mostly 'in boots'. She worked as a representative, buyer and sales manager in various companies including Ellis Brigham and Ardblair Sports. She was also a director of Blacks Leisure.
Knowing the outdoor clothing industry as she does, Carole is now able to get the best prices from suppliers – which can then be passed on to you, her customers.
Listen to a short interview with Carole Nelson on Lakeland Radio's 'Road on the Show' about The Sleepy Elephant in November 2017.
