Out & About …

… on the North York Moors, or wherever I happen to be.

Tag: Slate

  • Easdale

    Easdale

    The small island of Easdale lies a short ferry ride off the bigger island of Seil. It could fit inside a kilometre grid square and rises to a grand height of 38m., yet it has been transformed by quarrying for slate predominately for roof tiles that were shipped to cities all over Britain. The industry…

  • Penny Rigg Quarries, Tilberthwaite

    Penny Rigg Quarries, Tilberthwaite

    This great gash dominates the lower slopes of Wetherlam. Sandwiched between Tilberthwaite Gill and the remains of the Tilberthwaite copper mill, the 18th-century quarrymen were seeking a band of fine quality silver-grey slate. The slate is in a vertical bedding plane meaning extraction is very economical with minimal gunpowder needed. The slates were carted to…

  • Susanna Beever Drinking Fountain

    Susanna Beever Drinking Fountain

    An intriguing elaborate drinking fountain at almost the highest point on the Coniston to Hawkshead road. A Grade II listed building it is made of local slate and has two sections with a central pillar. The left-hand bay is a horse drinking trough with the inscription above: A RIGHTEOUS MAN REGARDETH THE LIFE OF HIS…

  • Caw Slate Mine

    Caw Slate Mine

    Fit for nothing today after yesterday’s exertions so I thought I would be justified in posting another photo from yesterday. This is Caw Slate Mine on the western slope of Caw, a 529m peak on the Coniston Fells. The view is north across the Duddon valley with Harter Fell the obvious peak left of centre.