AN ICONIC example of the whitesmith’s craft, which has adorned an historic Lake District building, has been replaced after falling into a dilapidated condition.

The Victorian soil-pipe ventilator was installed at a property in Hawkshead’s Wordsworth Street - once known as Rag, Putty and Leather Street - and over the decades has featured in many photographs taken by visitors and historians

The building’s current owner Rodney Carter, who runs the Tiger’s Eye jewellery shop, said whitesmith was a Victorian description of a worker in tinplate, otherwise known as a tinsmith.

“The ventilator was made by John Gibson and Son of Liverpool some time in the 19th century and photographs exist of it dating back to 1896,” Mr Carter said.

“During the 20th century, it was photographed many times but the years have taken their toll and it became very corroded and dilapidated to the extent that it was in danger of falling from its lofty height,

“So having researched the original maker in vain I decided to have a new one made by a sheet metal fabricator and galvanised with zinc, hoping it will last into the 22nd century.”