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The Old Man of Coniston Slate Quarries

The Old Man of Coniston mountain is located in the heart of the English Lakes District in Cumbria.  It is situated to the west of the the village of Coniston overlooking the lake of Coniston Water.  The mountain at 2,634 feet (803m)  high has always been a magical place for me ever since I climbed it as a young teenager with my parents.  Mines are located over the whole of the mountain from deep copper mines dug to a depth of around 880 feet.  The mountain is also famous for the slate quarries consisting of large caverns and huge slate spoil heaps seemingly flowing off the mountain side.  Slate has been dug from the ‘Old Man’ since around the 12-13th century.   It was formed by volcanic activity over 400 million years ago during the Ordovician period of mountain building.  The quarries of Moss Head and Saddlestone Main Bank are the most spectacular in the Lakes.  Consisting of aerial tramway towers, huge cables strewn across the mountain side and cutting/finishing sheds containing motors built in Leeds by Bramley Engineering Ltd.  As a teenager I remember a few of the towers standing.  These have all now fallen down but the buildings and relics have a majesty and beauty showing us the workplace of a generations of miners and their hard work.