Lindal in Furness: Mining History and Distinctive Local Details

Lindal in Furness combines church and local history with the legacy of an important iron-ore mining area. It is also home to a factory shop open to visitors and the Furness Haematite Trail, which explores the area’s industrial past on a 25-mile circular route. Anyone wishing to combine a trip with historical discoveries, crafts and landscapes will find several different focal points here to consider when planning their visit.

A Church, Grange and Village with a Long History

A prominent historical landmark is St Peter’s Church in Lindal in Furness. It was consecrated in 1886, replacing a temporary iron church dating from 1875. The area’s earlier history also reaches far back: Lindal-in-Furness was recorded in 1220 as a grange of Furness Abbey. Iron ore was being mined in the Lindal Moor area by 1220 at the latest.

The area’s eventful past also includes a specific event from the 17th century. On 1 October 1643, a battle took place near Lindal Close between the Furness Royalists and a Parliamentary force. Those interested in political and economic history can thereby connect different periods of time, rather than viewing Lindal solely as a setting for the later mining industry.

Haematite and the Legacy of Mining

Iron-ore mining was the most important branch of the economy in Lindal and Marton during the 19th and 20th centuries. The most important type of iron ore found there is haematite, known for its blood-red colour. The most significant haematite ore bodies in Lindal Moor ran along north-west-orientated fault lines through the limestone.

This geology left visible consequences. Mining using the top-slicing method created large depressions in the ground above the Lindal mines, many of which can still be seen today. The Furness Haematite Trail follows a 25-mile circular route to the sites of more than 20 mines and two steelworks. The route length is an important consideration when planning your day. The mine model was first placed in Barrow’s Dock Museum and was subsequently moved to St Peter’s Church in Lindal.

Visitor Experiences and Exploring Together

Another way to engage with the area’s history is through the Wax-Lyrical factory shop in Lindal, which is open to visitors. The Lindal shop sells Wax-Lyrical candles and reed diffusers, expertly made in the Lake District. Alongside the historical themes, this offers an insight into a specific craft and products with a regional connection to their manufacture.

The Green was created in 1887 by filling in a former tarn with spoil from the mines and material from a local quarry. The Green and neighbouring Buccleuch Hall provide space for Lindal’s annual village festivals and other special events. This makes the site a meeting point between historic changes to the landscape and community life in the village.

Choosing the Right Accommodation for Your Travel Interests

When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday cottage in Lindal in Furness, it is worth deciding on your main focus early on. If the trip is primarily intended to explore the history of the church, Furness Abbey and the Battle of Lindal Close on 1 October 1643, the daily itinerary will differ from that of a trip focused on mines, haematite and the Furness Haematite Trail. The factory shop and events around The Green can also provide their own reasons for planning a visit.

If the village itself and its history are to be the main focus, a holiday apartment or holiday cottage in Lindal in Furness could be the right choice for planning your trip.

Discover More Places

For further travel planning, you can also explore Dent, Lupton, Eskdale, Ulverston, Baycliff, St Bees, Frizington and Seascale.

For the wider travel overview: Cumbria.