The Journey of Richard Brownrigg!

ONE OF THE TOUGH BREED IT TAKES TO WIN LAKELAND'S ROCK

FAMILY FOOTSTEPS
On Monday the 1 January 1928, 14 year old Richard Brownrigg followed in the footsteps of three generations of his family before him.
Having left school the previous Thursday, he started the five mile trek by foot up the 1 in 4 slopes of Honister Hause to the slate quarries which sit at the top of one of Lakeland’s best known mountain passes. He started work as an apprentice Slate Splitter for the princely wage of half a crown a day. In those days, valley lads had two alternatives, they became miners or went on the land, usually following the family tradition.
Present day work at the 300 year old quarries is still a tough occupation but in the past the workers did not enjoy the relative benefits of mechanisation and motor transportation. Until 1949 the quarrymen trekked up Honister, through snow, rain, hail and sunshine from their homes in Seatoller, Stonethwaite and Rosthwaite.
Dick started work at 7.30 a.m. and finished at 5 p.m. and also worked Saturday mornings. His work record must be unique although he could recall one Samuel Burns of Stonethwaite working at Honister for fifty years.
Today the road over Honister is much improved but still proves difficult for motorists because of its steep inclines and bends. What must it have been like on bitter winter mornings for the men plodding five miles up the hause before starting a tough day’s graft?

"STRIKING A BARGAIN"
Dick remembered that "bargains" struck between quarrymen and the owners, after the end of the month share out, could end up paying just sixpence a day.
The bargains were paid according to the amount of dressed slate produced, with deductions for taxes, cost of powder, carbide for the lamps and tallow candles which gave extra light. Some quarrymen stayed in shacks on the fell tops while they were working the "bargains".

HONISTER WEATHER
In addition to its howling winds, Honister is one of the wettest places in Britain with approximately 100 inches of rain per year. It is on record that on one occasion the wind was so strong that it blew stream water back up the slopes, hurling it against the windows of the miners’ huts.
Dick Brownrigg’s forebear worked at the top of Yew Crags, dressing his slate on the spot and sledding it to the roadside. The workings and the old packhorse routes zigzagging across the steep screes can still be seen today.

EGGSHELL MOUNTAIN
Dick called Honister Crag an "eggshell mountain". He said: "You could put the entire population of London, Liverpool and Glasgow inside – and lose the lot".

HONISTER HISTORY
Half a century ago the quarry was owned by the Leconfield Estates and in 1967, Lord Egremont took over. The present company is owned by Mark Weir who bought the quarry in 1996.
The Head office used to be at Keswick station. The slate was transported down the Borrowdale Valley, by horse and cart, to the railway station or sent to the ports of Whitehaven or Maryport. The rate of carriage to London was 15 shillings per ton for ten ton loads. In 1919 the cost per ton was £95, today’s price is £400 per ton.
After Richard Brownrigg had served his apprenticeship as a slate splitter, rock hand and slate dresser, he was judged suitably qualified to be taken on with a wage of 7s 6d. In addition to this he was given a 6d rise every six months if his work proved satisfactory. He became Check Wightman in 1938, Works Manager on 1960 and 10 years later took on the Title of Mines and Quarry manager.

DICK – PERSONAL ACHIEVMENTS
Dick had worked in the quarry for 55 years and did not intend ever to retire. He knew more about Honister and slate quarrying than most, yet was still prepared to listen and take advice. He had shown many visitors around the quarry including the Duke of Edinburgh and Harold Macmillan. He also advised in the production of a BBC Television documentary about slate quarrying. Dick kept a diary detailing each man who has worked at Honister and records the rainfall figures. He kept these records at his hone at Chapel Field, Rosthwaite. He had been a Churchwarden for fifty years and served as a school governor and parish councillor.
He was as much part of the Borrowdale scene as the tough slate he hewed from Honister Crags for half a century. Long after he has gone Honister Mine has been resurrected but as the last link in his family’s association with the quarry, he was undoubtedly one of the few men left cast in the original mould.