CUMBRIA is one of the last strongholds of a traditional craft skill in danger of extinction, according to The Heritage Crafts Association (HCA).

The association updates its Red List of Endangered Crafts every two years and the 2023 list shows there are only up to eight working slate masons left in England – and at least three of them are in the county.

Crafts classified as ‘endangered’ are those which currently have sufficient craftspeople to transmit the craft skills to the next generation, but for which there are serious concerns about their ongoing viability. This may include crafts with a shrinking market share, an ageing demographic or crafts with a declining number of practitioners. 

“It’s a very real danger,” said Brendan Donnelly, owner of Coniston Stonecraft. “We’ve only been here for 47 years but people have been quarrying and carving slate in Cumbria for centuries. If we let these skills die out now, we will lose them forever.”

Stonecraft, Lakeland Stonecraft and Honister Slate Products all work with Cumbrian slate. Liam Cartmel-Walker is a trainee slate mason with Coniston.

HSA says issues affecting the viability of the craft are market and supply, lack of skills and knowledge of regional slating types, conservation of buildings, competition with large companies, an ageing workforce, availability of raw materials and competition from cheaper imports - an opinion shared by Brendan, who believes the main reason traditional crafts are being driven to the point of extinction is cheap imports of slate products from abroad.

He explained: “If our shops are full of kitchenware made in China and house signs carved in Spain, then our traditional skills will be lost.

“We need people to appreciate the skills of local carvers and recognise the importance of supporting truly local businesses.

“It is so, so satisfying to pick up a rolling pin made from beautiful Westmorland Green slate or to use a wine-chiller crafted from a stunning piece of Brathay Blue.

“The craft of working with slate is a great cultural asset for both Cumbria and for Britain.”

There are 146 traditional at-risk crafts on the 2023 list.