Windows and doors Coniston

Coniston started as a farming village like most of the towns in this area and quickly grew when it was needed to serve the local copper and slate mines. It gained popularity with tourists around the mid-19th century and has been home to painters, poets and lovers over the preceding decades. The Lake at Coniston finally put the town on the map when Donald Campbell broke several world water speed records during the 50s and ’60s before dying in a tragic accident during an attempt to break the record he already held again. With a museum nearby dedicated to the feat, the lake is also home to popular activities such as kayaking and canoeing. Peace and tranquillity are what one experiences when they push off from the shores into the middle of the lake. The whole village was powered by hydroelectricity during the 1920s, but this became so heavily taxed that the people there were forced to return to the national grid. Since 7 March 2007, a hydroelectric scheme has been used to power up to 300 homes, being sited near the original power station. 

Coniston is a popular village at the Northwest corner of Coniston Water.  Coniston has a long history as a centre for mining, with copper mines dating to the 17th century. More recently, slate mining has helped shape the landscape. However, it is primarily as a centre for walking that Coniston is rightfully known; the area is known for its superb recreational opportunities, and many of the most popular walks in the Lake District start or finish from Coniston. Of these, the most popular – and one of the easiest – is the ascent of the Old Man of Coniston, the peak that rises above the village. There are several routes to the top, and the routes are well-trodden and easy to follow, yet still challenging enough to provide an enjoyable walk for even the most experienced fell-walker. There has been a Ruskin Museum in Coniston since 1901, when W.G. Collingwood, a local artist and antiquarian who had been Ruskin’s secretary, set it up both as a memorial to Ruskin and a celebration of the area’s heritage. Therefore, although the museum has a Ruskin collection, there are also exhibits relating to the Coppermine, slate, geology, lace, farming and Donald Campbell.