Interview with Kit Poynton

How do you know the Cunliffes?

I delivered milk to them in 1988 when they and Richard first opened the doors as an hotel, so we go back quite a long way!

Your latest deliveries were a tad heavier than a pint of milk, what are they?

Slate landscape ornaments, which are now adorning the terraces outside the bar and lounge at Gilpin – the large round one weighs about a third of a ton.

Crikey. How do you shift that sort of weight?

We’ll create them in more than one piece, usually in 3-4 sections. We’ll complete one course, leave the slate dry so it’s a dry joint, and then create the next layer so we can transport it. Then we can glue it once it’s in situe, or leave it unglued if there’s a chance the owners will want to move it again.

The pieces have been described as architectural and decorative landscape ornaments.

They are. They contribute to the beauty and magic of the landscape, and they are the landscape.

Where did the idea come from?

Steve and I are both builders by trade, and having worked with Lakeland slate for many years we were looking to make something with it, using traditional skills.

How much work goes into each piece?

It’s hugely time consuming, and all done by hand. We buy random pieces of slate, which means it comes in varying lengths and widths, and cut it all down to 4 inches wide to minimize waste – sometimes they break but we always try and use the bits up somewhere!

It’s solid slate then?

Yes, they’re made entirely with the finest quality local blue slate. There’s a lot of stuff coming from Brazil at the moment but we prefer to work with the local slate, which results in stunning pieces of Lakeland history.

Do you use any machinery?

We had a blacksmith make a wheel for us to cut out in the slate. We make a 3D template of the design out of plywood, fix that upright on the bench, and work within that. It works a bit like a potters wheel, rotating as we add the slate.

Can you make me one?

Of course! The ones that we have done to date range from about one to two thousand pounds, but as all the pieces are custom designed on request this can vary. If you’d like one, please give us a call to discuss on 015394-44706, or email us on lakelandornamentals@gmail.com

For more information please visit: www.lakelandornamentals.co.uk

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About the author

Zoe Cunliffe
Zoë Cunliffe joined with husband Barney in 2001. She has worked through the departments as a sort of family apprentice, and has also added the 6th and 7th 'C's to the Relais & Châteaux 5C philosophy - Chat & Cuddle.