Interested in Helping?
The Museum is run by a group of volunteers who would welcome new colleagues as the Museum expands. If you live in the Lake District, have spare time and think you could help to run the Shop, take Underground Tours or help in any way on site, we'd love to hear from you. You'll find it a very friendly place with lovely views and it would be entirely up to you how much time you give. If you think you might be interested, please call Ian Hartland in the evening on 01768779202
UPDATE! Click here to read about Sir Tom, our new addition to the Threlkeld Museum Railway.
The History Of Threlkeld Quarry & Mining Museum
Threlkeld quarry was opened in the 1870’s by Mr H Harkewitz, a man of German descent, to supply railway ballast to the Penrith-Keswick line. Initial output was a few hundred tons per year, but by 1894 this had risen to 80,000 tons to satisfy demand. The stone was used by the Manchester Corporation Waterworks for their Thirlmere scheme, for railway ballast for the Crewe-Carlisle line, for roadstone, kerbing and for facing buildings with dressed stone. Unlike pink Shap granite, Thelkeld granite is not suitable for polishing and decorative use.
Harkewitz controlled the quarry until 1892 when he formed the Threlkeld Granite Co. With other directors, and also established a precast concrete works to produce the Thelkeld concrete flagstones, which were used in many Northern towns. They were made in the flagsheds which were refurbished recently and now function as the Blencathra Business Centre, just below the entrance to the Museum.
In 1936 the company amalgamated with the Cumberland Granite Co. Of Embleton to form the Keswick Granite Co. At the time, Embleton was more profitable and Threlkeld quarry was closed in 1937. However, it was re-opened in 1949 after complete modernisation to begin its second, and final, lease of life.
