Shared description
Low Bank
Extracted from the Coniston Local History Group website Link
"Named because, when established, it was the lowest of the working quarry banks on the north east shoulder of the mountain, Low Bank operated entirely as a slate mine and the entrance of the tunnel leading to the two underground chambers has been blocked for at least 50 years. However there are quarrymen still living in Coniston who can remember working at Low Bank. The tunnel driven into the
mountain splits after about 100ft. The right hand branch leads to a chamber from which silver-grey slate clogs were extracted for manufacture into roofing slates in sheds on the bank. The left hand branch led into a separate chamber from which very unusual ‘white slate’ rock was found. This rock could be riven extremely thin. It was alleged that when held up to the sky it was possible to ‘see light through it’. Quarrymen frequently demonstrated this to passing walkers climbing the mountain and would manufacture small coasters from the white slate to sell to them. In recent years attempts have been made by industrial archaeologists to re-open the entrance to the level. A number of riving and dressing sheds were established on the quarry bank; only the foundations can be seen today. From the far end of the bank a rough road runs to the site of the former Smithy. Overhead, for several years, the aerial flight ran linking the Saddlestone bank above with High Brandy Crag below."
"Named because, when established, it was the lowest of the working quarry banks on the north east shoulder of the mountain, Low Bank operated entirely as a slate mine and the entrance of the tunnel leading to the two underground chambers has been blocked for at least 50 years. However there are quarrymen still living in Coniston who can remember working at Low Bank. The tunnel driven into the
mountain splits after about 100ft. The right hand branch leads to a chamber from which silver-grey slate clogs were extracted for manufacture into roofing slates in sheds on the bank. The left hand branch led into a separate chamber from which very unusual ‘white slate’ rock was found. This rock could be riven extremely thin. It was alleged that when held up to the sky it was possible to ‘see light through it’. Quarrymen frequently demonstrated this to passing walkers climbing the mountain and would manufacture small coasters from the white slate to sell to them. In recent years attempts have been made by industrial archaeologists to re-open the entrance to the level. A number of riving and dressing sheds were established on the quarry bank; only the foundations can be seen today. From the far end of the bank a rough road runs to the site of the former Smithy. Overhead, for several years, the aerial flight ran linking the Saddlestone bank above with High Brandy Crag below."
by Mick Garratt
Created: Sun, 29 Aug 2010, Updated: Tue, 28 Sep 2010
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- Saddlestone Main Bank
By Mick Garratt. Used on 4 images
- The Smithy
By Mick Garratt. Used on 6 images
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