Today, a shot of a mine entrance and some long disused mine railway track at Honister Slate Mine. According to the history book, slate was probably mined in this area in the Roman era and, quite possibly, that it began in a less organised way in prehistoric times. The first confirmed records of slate mining in Honister appear in the early 1700s. By the mid 1700's, quarrying was taking place on a significant scale and, from 1833, production moved up a gear with the creation of underground mines as well as open quarries. Major slate production ceased around the end of the last century and most of the surrounding hills are dotted with abandoned, closed up mine shafts. Slate is still mined here on a much smaller scale and it has now become quite a major tourist attraction with organised tours in the larger mine and slate works and tourist information centre and shop. Honister slate has a distinctive green colouration and is often seen as decorative cladding on some buildings as well as the more normal slate roofing. It is a, truly, fascinating place to visit and offers some excellent photo opportunities. :-) -------------------------------- Original Photograph: 23-Mar-2003