To Coniston

After Hawkshead, we rolled on to our last port of call, Coniston.

What looked like the Old Man of Coniston seemed to greet us in the distance:

It was a beautiful morning sight.

At the car park, we saw signs of Coniston's green slate industry:

Have just read that the slate mines lie on the north-east side of the Old Man. They are collectively known as the Old Man Quarries, but also have such  individual names as Brandy Crag, Saddle-Stone, and Moss Head.

Have also just discovered that the slate mines have been operational since at least the 13th century, with all of them lying more or less underground, except for Low Brandy Crag which was turned into an open quarry in the 1980s, and is still being worked today.

Shortly after parking up, we saw the Sun Inn:

Can remember going in the Sun Inn some time in the early to mid-1990s, and the landlord telling us that Robert Plant had been staying there the week before.

It's definitely a grand-looking pub. Have just read that it dates back to the 16th century.

St. Andrew's church below signalled that we were entering the centre of Coniston:

Have just read that John Ruskin (1819-1900) is buried in the graveyard at St. Andrew's, with his grave being marked by a big carved cross made from green slate from a local quarry at Tiberthwaite.

Have also just read that Ruskin was a big fan of J.M.W. Turner (1775-1851) and a truth-to-nature principle in Art, and championed the Pre-Raphaelite movement.