Coniston, Cumbria

Last updated

Coniston
Village and parish
Coniston.JPG
Coniston
Cumbria UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Coniston
Location within Cumbria
Population928 (2011) [1]
OS grid reference SD2996
Civil parish
  • Coniston
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town CONISTON
Postcode district LA21
Dialling code 015394
Police Cumbria
Fire Cumbria
Ambulance North West
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Cumbria
54°22′05″N3°04′23″W / 54.368°N 3.073°W / 54.368; -3.073

Coniston is a village and civil parish in the Westmorland and Furness district of Cumbria, England. In the 2001 census the parish had a population of 1,058, [2] decreasing at the 2011 census to 928. [1] Within the boundaries of the historic county of Lancashire, it is in the southern part of the Lake District National Park, [3] between Coniston Water, the third longest lake in the Lake District, and Coniston Old Man.

Contents

Coniston is 25 miles (40 km) northeast of Barrow-in-Furness, 20 miles (32 km) west of Kendal and 42 miles (68 km) north of Lancaster.

History

Coniston grew as both a farming village, and to serve local copper and slate mines. [4] It grew in popularity as a tourist location during the Victorian era, thanks partially to the construction of a branch of the Furness Railway, which opened to passenger traffic in 1859 and terminated at Coniston railway station. [5]

The poet and social critic John Ruskin also popularised the village, buying the mansion Brantwood on the eastern side of Coniston Water in 1871. Before his death, he rejected the option to be buried in Westminster Abbey, instead being laid to rest in the churchyard of St Andrew's, Coniston. Ruskin Museum, established in 1901, is both a memorial to Ruskin and a local museum covering the history and heritage of Coniston Water and the Lake District. [6]

The philosopher R.G. Collingwood is buried in Coniston.

The painter Henry Robinson Hall lived and worked and was buried in Coniston. [7]

Donald Campbell added to the profile of the village and lake when he broke four World Water Speed Records on the lake in the 1950s. He died attempting to break the world water speed record for the eighth time in 1967, when his jet boat, "Bluebird K7", crashed at 290 mph (470 km/h), having already set the record for the seventh time at Dumbleyung Lake, Western Australia in 1964. His body and boat ( Bluebird K7 ) were discovered and recovered by divers in 2001 and he was buried in the new graveyard in Coniston in September 2001. A new wing has been built at the Ruskin Museum to accommodate the fully restored Bluebird K7 boat. It opened in late 2009 with the K7 due to have arrived in late 2011 or early 2012. [8]

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 hydro-electric scheme has been in use to power up to 300 homes; being sited near the original. [4]

Buses

The main bus service in Coniston is a Stagecoach Cumbria service 505 which goes to Ambleside, Windermere and occasionally Kendal. [9]

Etymology

Coniston was called "Coningeston" in the 12th century, a name derived from konungr, the Old Norse for king, and tūn the Old English for farmstead or village. This would give the village the title of "The king's estate". [10] Ekwall [11] speculated that this town could have been the centre of a 'small Scandinavian mountain kingdom'. [12]

Geography

Coniston is located on the western shore of the northern end of Coniston Water. [13] It sits at the mouth of Coppermines Valley and Yewdale Beck, which descend from the Coniston Fells, historically the location of ore and slate mining. [4] Coniston's location thus developed as a farming village and transport hub, serving these areas. Coniston was situated in the very north-west of the historic county of Lancashire, with Coniston Old Man forming the county's highest point. [14]

Governance

Coniston is part of the Westmorland and Lonsdale parliamentary constituency, of which Tim Farron is the current MP representing the Liberal Democrats. [15] [16]

Before Brexit, it was in the North West England European Parliamentary Constituency.

For Local Government purposes, Coniston is in the Coniston and Hawkshead ward of Westmorland and Furness Council. [17]

The total population of this ward as taken at the 2011 Census was 1,575. [18]

The village also has its own Parish Council. [19]

Leisure and tourism

The creation of the Lake District National Park in 1951 provided a boost to tourism, with attractions such as the Ruskin Museum and ferry services across the lake developing. Coniston is a popular spot for hill-walking and rock-climbing; there are fine walks to be had on the nearby Furness Fells and Grizedale Forest, and some of the finest rock in the Lake District on the eastern face of Dow Crag, 3 miles (4.8 km) from the village. The Grizedale Stages rally also takes place in Coniston, using the surrounding Grizedale and Broughton Moor (or Postlethwaite Allotment) forests. The village is also home to a number of hotels and two youth hostels, one at the edge of the village, the other in the nearby Coppermines Valley.

The village also has a football team, Coniston AFC, who play their home games at Coniston sports and social centre.

Climate

As with the rest of the British Isles, Coniston experiences a maritime climate with cool summers and mild winters. Rainfall is high, at not much under 2000mm a year. Temperature extremes have ranged from −15.2 °C (4.6 °F) during February 1986, [20] to 30.3 °C (86.5 °F) during August 1990. [21] The nearest Met Office weather station is Grizedale, around 2.5 miles to the South East.

Climate data for Grizedale 91m asl, 1971–2000, Extremes 1960– (Weather Station 2.5 miles SE of Coniston)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)12.2
(54.0)		14.0
(57.2)		19.4
(66.9)		24.9
(76.8)		26.5
(79.7)		29.8
(85.6)		30.1
(86.2)		30.3
(86.5)		26.7
(80.1)		21.7
(71.1)		16.4
(61.5)		13.0
(55.4)		30.3
(86.5)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)6.2
(43.2)		6.6
(43.9)		8.6
(47.5)		11.3
(52.3)		15.0
(59.0)		17.2
(63.0)		19.2
(66.6)		18.8
(65.8)		16.0
(60.8)		12.8
(55.0)		9.1
(48.4)		7.1
(44.8)		12.3
(54.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)0.2
(32.4)		0.4
(32.7)		1.5
(34.7)		2.6
(36.7)		4.8
(40.6)		7.7
(45.9)		9.8
(49.6)		9.6
(49.3)		7.8
(46.0)		5.1
(41.2)		2.4
(36.3)		1.0
(33.8)		4.4
(39.9)
Record low °C (°F)−14.4
(6.1)		−15.2
(4.6)		−12.2
(10.0)		−6
(21)		−6.9
(19.6)		−2.6
(27.3)		1.1
(34.0)		−1.1
(30.0)		−1.7
(28.9)		−5.9
(21.4)		−9.8
(14.4)		−14.2
(6.4)		−15.2
(4.6)
Average precipitation mm (inches)199.48
(7.85)		147.56
(5.81)		171.31
(6.74)		97.43
(3.84)		89.89
(3.54)		102.37
(4.03)		114.14
(4.49)		142.84
(5.62)		156.36
(6.16)		208.18
(8.20)		196.1
(7.72)		214.35
(8.44)		1,902.57
(74.90)
Source 1: YR.NO [22]
Source 2: Royal Dutch Meteorological Institute [23]

Mining and minerals

Two slate quarries still operate at Coniston, one in Coppermines Valley, the other at Brossen Stone on the east side of the Coniston Old Man. Both work Coniston's volcanic slates, being blue at Low-Brandy Crag in Coppermines Valley, and light green at Brossen Stone (bursting stone). The scenery around Coniston derives from Coniston Limestone and rocks of the Borrowdale Volcanic Group.

Services

Coniston is also an important local centre, with a secondary school (John Ruskin School), primary school (Coniston Church of England Primary School), bank, petrol station and other such services. It has also repeatedly been highly placed in the Village of the Year award, winning it in 1997.

Twinning

The village is twinned with Illiers-Combray. [24] The French village is associated with Marcel Proust for whom Ruskin's work was a source of inspiration.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ulverston</span> Market town in Cumbria, England

Ulverston is a market town and civil parish in Westmorland and Furness, Cumbria, England. In the 2001 census the parish had a population of 11,524, increasing at the 2011 census to 11,678. Historically in Lancashire, it lies a few miles south of the Lake District National Park and just north-west of Morecambe Bay, within the Furness Peninsula. Lancaster is 39 miles (63 km) to the east, Barrow-in-Furness 10 miles (16 km) to the south-west and Kendal 25 miles (40 km) to the north-east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ambleside</span> Human settlement in England

Ambleside is a town and former civil parish in the Westmorland and Furness district of Cumbria, England. Within the boundaries of the historic county of Westmorland and located in the Lake District National Park, the town sits at the head of Windermere, England's largest natural lake. In 2020 it had an estimated population of 2596.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kirkby Lonsdale</span> Town and civil parish in Cumbria, England

Kirkby Lonsdale is a town and civil parish in the Westmorland and Furness district of Cumbria, England, on the River Lune. Historically in Westmorland, it lies 13 miles (21 km) south-east of Kendal on the A65. The parish recorded a population of 1,771 in the 2001 census, increasing to 1,843 at the 2011 Census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coniston Water</span> Lake in Cumbria, England

Coniston Water is a lake in the Lake District in North West England. It is the third largest by volume, after Windermere and Ullswater, and the fifth-largest by area. The lake has a length of 8.7 kilometres, a maximum width of 730 metres (800 yd), and a maximum depth of 56.1 m. Its outflow is the River Crake, which drains into Morecambe Bay via the estuary of the River Leven. The lake is in the unitary authority of Westmorland and Furness, and the ceremonial county of Cumbria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grange-over-Sands</span> English Victorian era town

Grange-over-Sands is a town and civil parish on the north side of Morecambe Bay in Cumbria, England, a few miles south of the Lake District National Park. In the 2001 census the parish had a population of 4,042, increasing at the 2011 census to 4,114. Within the boundaries of the historic county of Lancashire, the town became administered as an urban district in 1894. Though the town remains part of the Duchy of Lancaster, since 2023 it has been administered as part of the Westmorland and Furness Council area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Lakeland</span> Former local government district in England

South Lakeland was a local government district in Cumbria, England, from 1974 to 2023. Its council was based in Kendal. The district covered the southern part of the Lake District region, as well as northwestern parts of the Yorkshire Dales. At the 2011 Census, the population of the district was 103,658, an increase from 102,301 at the 2001 Census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Furness</span>

Furness is a peninsula and region of Cumbria, England. Together with the Cartmel Peninsula it forms North Lonsdale, historically an exclave of Lancashire. On 1 April 2023 it became part of the new unitary authority of Westmorland and Furness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Man of Coniston</span> Mountain in the English Lake District, Cumbria, England

The Old Man of Coniston is a fell in the Furness Fells of the Lake District in Cumbria, England, and is the highest point of the historic county of Lancashire. It is at least 2,632.62 feet (802.42 m) high, and lies to the west of the village of Coniston and the lake, Coniston Water. The fell is sometimes known by the alternative name of Coniston Old Man, or simply The Old Man. The mountain is popular with tourists and fell-walkers with a number of well-marked paths to the summit. The mountain has also seen extensive copper and slate mining activity for eight hundred years, and the remains of abandoned mines and spoil tips are a significant feature of the north-east slopes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arnside</span> Human settlement in England

Arnside is a village and civil parish in Cumbria, historically part of Westmorland, near the border with Lancashire, England. The Lake District National Park is located a few miles north. Travelling by road, Arnside is 22 miles (35 km) to the south of Kendal, 25.3 miles (40.7 km) to the east of Ulverston, 35.2 miles (56.6 km) to the east of Barrow-in-Furness, 15.7 miles (25.3 km) to the west of Lancaster and 14.3 miles (23.0 km) to the east of Grange-over-Sands. In the 2001 census the parish had a population of 2,301, increasing at the 2011 census to 2,334.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greenodd</span> Human settlement in England

Greenodd is a village in the Furness area of the county of Cumbria, England, but within the historical county of Lancashire. For local government purposes the village is also within the South Lakeland local area of Westmorland and Furness unitary authority. It is located 3 miles (5 km) north-east of Ulverston at the junction of the A590 trunk road and the A5092 trunk road. The village is just outside the boundary of the Lake District National Park at 54°14′N3°3′W. Greenodd was within the Crake Valley area of South Lakeland District. The 2001 UK census, gives a population of 1823 for the Crake Valley. Greenodd and adjacent Penny Bridge are the main districts in the Crake Valley. The River Crake flows into the estuary of the River Leven at Greenodd.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kents Bank</span> Village in England

Kents Bank is a small village in Cumbria, England, so named for its proximity to the River Kent estuary. Part of the historic County Palatine of Lancashire, it is located 2 miles (3.2 km) south-west of Grange-over-Sands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westmorland and Lonsdale (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1983 onwards

Westmorland and Lonsdale is a constituency in the south of Cumbria, represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2005 by Tim Farron, the former leader of the Liberal Democrats (2015–2017).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hawkshead</span> Human settlement in England

Hawkshead is a village and civil parish in Westmorland and Furness, Cumbria, England. Within the boundaries of the historic county of Lancashire, the parish includes the hamlets of Hawkshead Hill, 1.2 miles (1.9 km) to the north west, and Outgate, a similar distance north. Hawkshead contains one primary school but no secondary school and four public houses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Broughton-in-Furness</span> Town in Cumbria, England

Broughton in Furness is a market town in the civil parish of Broughton West in the Westmorland and Furness district of Cumbria, England. It had a population of 529 at the 2011 Census. It is located on the south western boundary of England's Lake District National Park, and in the Furness region, which is within the historic boundaries of Lancashire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Torver</span> Human settlement in England

Torver is a village and civil parish in the South Lakeland district of Cumbria, England, 3 miles (4.8 km) south west of the village of Coniston and 1 mile (1.6 km) west of Coniston Water.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Near and Far Sawrey</span> Human settlement in England

Near Sawrey and Far Sawrey are two neighbouring villages in the Furness area of Cumbria, England. Within the boundaries of the historic county of Lancashire, both are located in the Lake District between the village of Hawkshead and the lake of Windermere. The two lie on the B5285, which runs from Hawkshead to the west bank of the Windermere Ferry, a car ferry across Windermere 1 mile to the east of the villages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skelwith Bridge</span> Human settlement in England

Skelwith Bridge is a small village in the southern area of the Lake District in Cumbria, England. Historically, Skelwith Bridge is part of Westmorland, lying on the ancient boundary with Lancashire. The civil parish is called Skelwith. Its population at the 2011 census was 155. It is located around 3 miles south of Grasmere and is nearby the waterfalls of Skelwith Force and Colwith Force. The nearest lakes to the village are Elter Water to the north-west and Loughrigg Tarn to the north.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruskin Museum</span> Museum in Cumbria, England

The Ruskin Museum is a small local museum in Coniston, Cumbria, northern England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spark Bridge</span> Human settlement in England

Spark Bridge is a village in Cumbria, England, within the Lake District National Park, and within the historic boundaries of Lancashire. The former mill village is situated away from the main road on the River Crake which flows from Coniston Water to Morecambe Bay at Greenodd. The village green which is next to and gives access to the river is in the middle of the village surrounded by well maintained white painted cottages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Ruskin School</span> Community school in Coniston, Cumbria, England

John Ruskin School (JRS) is an 11–16 school on Lake Road in Coniston, Cumbria. The school is part of the Rural Academy, a group of nine small schools in Cumbria which was awarded Technology College status in 2004, and a member of the South Lakes Federation of Schools.

References

  1. 1 2 UK Census (2011). "Local Area Report – Coniston Parish (E04002597)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics . Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  2. ↑ UK Census (2001). "Local Area Report – Coniston Parish (16UG014)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics . Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  3. ↑ Ordnance Survey Map (1946) – Coniston Village, Accessed 18 July 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 The Story of Coniston, 2nd edition, by Alastair Cameron and Elizabeth Brown, privately published, Coniston 2003.
  5. ↑ The Coniston Railway by Robert Western, Oakwood Press, Usk 2007. ( ISBN   978-0-85361-667-2)
  6. ↑ W. G. Collingwood (1893) The Life of John Ruskin (2 vols.) (Methuen) (The Life of John Ruskin, sixth edition (1905))
  7. ↑ Census Returns of England and Wales for 1921, the National Archives, Kew (Surrey) 1921.
  8. ↑ "Ruskin Museum". ruskinmuseum.com. Archived from the original on 9 August 2006. Retrieved 22 July 2009.
  9. ↑ "CNL Winter 23 Lakes by Bus" (PDF). stagecoachbus.com.
  10. ↑ "English Place-names by Heikki Rajala, Innervate – University of Nottinghamshire, vol. 2, 2009–2010" (PDF). www.nottingham.ac.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  11. ↑ Ekwall, Eilert (1922). The place-names of Lancashire. Manchester: Chetham Society.
  12. ↑ Whaley, Diana (2006). A dictionary of Lake District place-names. Nottingham: English Place-Name Society. pp. lx, 423 p.80–81. ISBN   0904889726.
  13. ↑ "Coniston". Lake District Hotel and Information Guide. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  14. ↑ "Lancashire Walks, Coniston" (PDF). Lancashire Walks. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  15. ↑ "Tim Farron". theyworkforyou.com. Archived from the original on 1 June 2013.
  16. ↑ "Westmorland & Lonsdale general election 2019".
  17. ↑ "Westmorland and Furness Council wards map" (PDF).
  18. ↑ "Ward population 2011" . Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  19. ↑ "Coniston Parish Council". 16 January 2023.
  20. ↑ "1986 temperature". KNMI. Archived from the original on 5 June 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2011.
  21. ↑ "1990 temperature". KNMI. Archived from the original on 5 June 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2011.
  22. ↑ "Grizedale Climate". YR.NO . Retrieved 7 November 2011.
  23. ↑ "Grizedale Extremes". KNMI . Retrieved 7 November 2011.
  24. ↑ Addison, Mike (2014). "Coniston toasts its twin towns". Westmorland Gazette . Retrieved 5 June 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.