Honister Slate Mine
It is believed that the first slate was probably mined from the Honister area in the Roman era, although it is quite possible that it began in a more haphazard way in prehistoric times. Certainly, slate roofing was a feature of many thirteenth century monastic buildings and it has been used as a building material in the region for many centuries.
However, the first confirmed records of slate mining in Honister do not appear until the early 1700s. The Lakeland poet, William Wordsworth even makes reference to slate quarrying in his diaries.
Quarrying on a significant scale was taking place in the 1750s and, from 1833, under the managerial eye of entrepreneur Sam Wright, the business expanded with the creation of underground mines as well as open quarries. Following the creation of the Buttermere Green Slate Company in 1879, 'inclines’ were built to carry the finished slates away. Previously, they had been carried by packhorse, or by sleds running precariously down the scree slopes to the road. After 1892, The Hause became the centre of operations and was linked to the quarries by road, tramway, aerial ropeway (1928) and huge inclines inside the mountain (1930s).
The slate workers lived at Honister (often inside the mines) during the week, going home at weekends. In the twentieth century, some stayed in 'barracks' at The Hause and the company built some houses for its workers in Borrowdale.
VISITORS INFORMATION:
OPEN 7 days a week 9.00am - 5.00pm
The highlight of any visit to Honister Slate Mine must be our fully guided underground tour!
GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST!!
Daily at: 10.30, 12.30 (14.00) & 15.30
Address:
Honister Slate Mine,
Honister Pass,
Borrowdale, Keswick,
Cumbria,
CA12 5XN