All About the Coniston Copper Mines
There are some amazing places to visit in the South of the Lake District and huge numbers of tourists are attracted to the region throughout the year. One of the most popular destinations for visitors is Coniston Copper Mines which has recently been through significant conservation with the help of lottery funding.
Our cottage company is based around this stunning spot, from which we also took our name. Here we take a look at this historic location and why you should put it on your itinerary when booking your holiday cottage.
Where is Coniston Copper?
As you might expect, the Coniston Copper Mines are located in a valley above the lake. It is the perfect location to explore and, for those who love hiking, there are some amazing views and sites of historic interest.
From the worked landscape to the sublime waterfalls, this is a great place to visit for all the family.
The History of Coniston Copper
There has been mining at Coniston Copper since Elizabethan times and it continued to be a working mine until the middle of the 20th century. The queen initially bought over German miners to take advantage of the rich deposits of copper which were then shipped as far afield as London and Europe. While mining was interrupted during the Civil War, it continued robustly until industrialist Charles Roe invested in the area.
By the 19th century, new technologies such as waterpower were being used in mining and in 1830 a manager’s house was built at the location which is still there to this day. While industrial mining ceased in the early 20th century, the area continued to be utilised up until 1950 when it fell into disrepair.
The Coniston Copper Project
In more recent times, the Coniston Copper Project has received a £455,000 grant from the lottery to help develop the site for tourism. Over two years, the conservation of the mine has been undertaken with some 150 elements having been repaired over two different sites.
There are now some amazing routes that people can hike over and explore the world of copper mining as it was centuries ago. These include:
- Miners’ Lives Guided Trail: This involves a short walk around Coniston village under the wing of an experienced guide and looking at the social history and how the nature of the village changed because of mining.
- The Copper Mines Valley: If you fancy more of a hike, the trip to the original site of mining in Coniston is well worth your time. It also gives you the chance to explore the new Heritage Centre that lies on the edge of the fells.
- The Land of Power and Ore Trail: This hike takes you deeper into the fells where you’ll get a real feel for what it was like mining in the area. You’ll also be able to get closer to the mines themselves and see some of the equipment that was used in bygone days.
Coniston Copper is a great place to visit any time of year and attracts thousands of visitors. After the conservation project, it has become a site of important historic interest as well as great place to visit for the stunning views. For Cottages based in and around these historic mines book now and enjoy not only the stunning scenery this special place has to offer but also its industrial heritage.
