On the slate

Mining talent in the heart of the Lake District

Tucked between The jagged peaks of honister Pass in t he Lake dist r ict, the last working slate mine in england still rumbles with activity. Reopened in 1997 by entrepreneur Mark weir, who died in a helicopter accident in 2011, honister Slate Mine remains in the family and it is now run by his partner, Jan, brother, Joe and mother, celia. A team of miners and craftsmen excavate the beautiful westmorland Green slate and turn it into anything from place mats and chessboards to f ireplace hear ths and roof slates.

Graham Robson, a former cabinetmaker, joined honister in 1999. ‘I was out walking with my wife and called in on the off-chance that the owner would be there,’ recalls Robson, 39. ‘he said, “If you’re interested [in work] come up on Monday and we’ll take it from there.” I’ve been here ever since.’

One of t he benef it s of working at honister is the glorious setting. ‘I have beautiful views and can even see a waterfall from my window,’ he says.

Robson specialises in making slate house signs, a bestselling item in the mine’s shop. each starts out as part of a massive lump of slate and is cut into slabs using an electric saw. ‘depending on the quality, the slate will either be used for kitchens and roofing slates or made into smaller pieces for house signs,’ he explains.

next, Robson polishes the slate using a machine with diamond-studded discs –at this point there is a residue of gunpowder on the slate from the mining process, so polishing it is important. he then cuts the slate to the shape and size of the sign, and engraves it with the house name or number, either by sandblasting it or using an engraving machine. Finally, Robson spraypaint sit and drills holes using a masonry drill. The finished sign is coated in a stone seal ant to protect against weathering.

even though honister is england’s last remaining slate mine – the decline largely a result of cheaper imports– Robson is confident that it has along and secure future. ‘It’s a quality british material – a roof tile can last 300 years,’ he says. ‘It would be a shame to lose it.’

Clockwise from top right Graham Robson in his enviable workplace; Robson engraving a slate house sign; the finished product. Interview by Jessica Carpani. Photographs by Tom King