Slate

Slate has been quarried in the Lake District for centuries. It comes in various shades of grey, but blues and greens can be found in it, depending on the various mineral and vegetation deposits. My house in Keswick has a slate roof from Honister. The fire hearth is a beautiful piece of Elterwater slate, the markings in it are amazing and it gives me pleasure everytime I look at it. I have a rough-hewn six- hole gate stoop in my front garden, which also gives me pleasure, it looks like slate, and possibly originates from Honister. It came from Little Town Farm in Newlands.

I am familiar with Honister, being based in Keswick, and it has changed dramatically over the years. Diversity seems to be the key to survival: zip wires, via ferrata, mine tours, cafe and shop.