Welcome to this guide to the many industries that were active in this county in the centuries up to the present day.
Each entry in the A-Z list of industries leads to an article on that subject. Each of these articles is followed by suggestions for site visits, further reading, and links to relevant websites. Many of them lead further to specific examples of that industry in action.
The photo galleries display images of local industries, many of them from the Mike Davies-Shiel Collection. You can buy copies of most of them – follow this link to find out more.
What’s new? For the latest pages see:
- Spades and blades – a look at edge tool manufacture
- From Fabric to Fashion – The textile industry in and around Whitehaven
- The Society’s programme for 2025.
- The slate trail from the Walna Scar Quarries
- Carnforth Ironworks
- Images of industry in Braithwaite, Thornthwaite and Wythop
- The Cark and District Electricity Company
- Photos of a charcoal burn
- Cumbria Industrial History Society’s programme for 2024
- Country House Hospitality for the guests of the big industrialists
- A look at Mealbank, an industrial colony north-east of Kendal
- The Land Settlement Association in Cumbria
- Plenty about Hodbarrow iron ore mines in an article and photos
- Barrow in 1901 – a description of its industries
- A look at Harrington – coal, chemicals, iron and ships
- Farfield Mill near Sedbergh – facts and photos
- Links from Salt to a new online talk and a website full of information
- Keswick’s water-powered mills – photos and an article
- Swill basket making – a traditional Lakeland industry
- An intro with photos to snuff making, and a feature on Helsington Snuff Mill
Thanks to everyone who has contributed material for this website – members of the Cumbria Industrial History Society, past and present; the Cumbria Amenity Trust Mining History Society and the Cumberland & Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society; and various individuals.
If you have any comments to make on the content of this guide, or know where we might find useful items to add to it please e-mail mbarb@freenetname.co.uk.
General enquiries about the industrial history of Cumbria, or specific requests for information, should be directed to cihs@cumbria-industries.org.uk.