It’s no secret that the United Kingdom is home to some of the world’s most outstanding and varied natural beauty. From the Cornish coast to the Cumbrian mountains, there are endless landscapes to explore. What we’re interested in, however, is hidden deep beneath the surface.
You guessed it, we’re talking about slate. This beautiful natural rock has been quarried for centuries and can be found everywhere from roof tiles to tabletops.
Read on to discover our brief guide to slate mining in the UK.
Welsh Slate
First up, we thought we’d hop across the border to Wales, a country renowned for its natural beauty. Aside from the breathtaking landscapes and dewy mountains, Wales was once home to some of the largest slate quarries in the world. Producing their famously beautiful Welsh slate, mines such as Penrhyn and Llechwedd are said to have roofed the industrial revolution!
Cornish Slate
Here in the UK, Cornwall is also known to produce high-quality, aesthetically pleasing slate which has been used in building projects for around 800 years. Cornish slate is known for its versatility, making it ideal for numerous applications such as roofing, flooring and landscaping.
Cumbrian Slate
Of course, we wanted to save the best for last; the UK is also renowned for its production and mining of Westmorland Slate in Cumbria. This distinctive, green volcanic rock is over 450 million years old and used for a wide range of functional applications, even today.
Here at Honister Slate Mine, we’re proud to exist as one of the last working slate mines in the UK and have been extracting the beautiful rock for centuries. What’s more, we truly believe that it is important to educate young people about the role of natural resources such as slate in the modern world. Be it 19th-century architecture or modern roofing, high-quality natural slate plays an important part in this country’s history and industrial past.
Educational Experiences With Honister Slate
Interested in learning more about our educational experiences and school days? We understand the importance of actively engaging children in their own learning and are pleased to offer a range of indoor and outdoor adventures for all ages and abilities. One of our most popular activities is the Mine Tour, where children can dive deep into a working slate mine to see first-hand how the beautiful green rock is extracted.
Children are, of course, visual learners. The Mine Tour offers an immersive experience, providing them with the opportunity to explore the fascinating history and techniques of slate mining. They will get to walk through the tunnels, see the mining tools in action, and even meet the miners who continue this ancient craft.
No matter your requirements, we’ll always do our best to accommodate your needs. Get in touch with a member of our team to discover all we have to offer and book yourself or your class onto our truly unique educational activities.