Coniston, Tarn Hows, Tilberthwaite and Torver

Coniston, Cumbria

Coniston, nestling between Coniston Water and the Coniston Fells, owes its prosperity to copper mining and slate quarrying. In the 16th century, rich seams of copper were discovered, but with no mining expertise locally, miners from Germany came over to work the copper veins. By the mid-19th century, the Coniston copper mines were the most productive in Europe, with most of the copper taken to line the hulls of wooden sailing vessels. Many industrial remains associated with copper mining can be seen in Coppermines Valley to the northwest of the village.

North of Coniston, two spur roads lead to Tilberthwaite where a world of slate opens up. Here, quarrying on an industrial scale has created a distinctive landscape of huge spoil heaps and gaping rock chasms. Slate quarrying accelerated during the 17th century in response to increased demand for building materials, particularly roofing slates. Coniston slate is still quarried locally for use on prestigious buildings throughout the world. Torver, a small hamlet about 3 miles southwest of Coniston, is accessible by foot or cycle via off-road routes or by Coniston Launch and holds a Lakeland Country Fair in August every year.

Sheep farming has been the mainstay of the local economy for centuries. In medieval times, Monk Coniston was a sheep grange belonging to Furness Abbey, providing fleeces for woollen cloths. Nowadays, Herdwick sheep graze the pastures and fellsides around Coniston. This hardy breed with its white face, grey fleece and sturdy legs, has an in-bred ‘hefting’ instinct that ensures they stay within a ‘home’ territory on the open fell.

Tourism has gradually usurped the old mining and quarrying industries. From the 18th century onwards, people came to marvel at the natural scenery of the area, including the influential writer and reformer, John Ruskin, who bought a house on the shores of Coniston Water and lived the last decades of his life here. Nearby, the tranquil setting of Tarn Hows (SD326997) was created by the wealthy Marshall family as a designed landscape in the 1860s. It was bought by Beatrix Potter in the 1930s and is now owned by the National Trust. Miss Potter also bought Yew Tree Farm and encouraged her tenant to open up a tearoom to serve refreshments to visitors – a welcome service that is still provided today at Walker’s Tearoom.

Today, Coniston’s proximity to dramatic landscapes has given rise to a thriving economy based on watersports, leisurely cruises on the lake, walking, climbing, horse riding and the consumption of Coniston’s own real ale!

Visit website: www.golakes.co.uk

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