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THE CONISTON INSTITUTE

The Coniston Institute is a beautiful community run village hall and facilities in the heart of Coniston, a picturesque South Lakeland village.

The Coniston Institute is a remarkable complex of buildings that has played a central role in the life of Coniston’s rural and industrial community for over a 150 years.

Founded in 1852 as a place of education, wellbeing and personal development for the families of miners and quarrymen it continues today as a cultural and social centre for villagers and visitors alike.

The Institute offers an extensive range of resources and activities, including rooms for hire, a fully functional kitchen, a library and an honest shop.

Local organisations such as the WI and community choir also meet here.

So whether you want to hold a wedding, party or a meeting, The Coniston Institute can provide everything you need.

The Coniston Mechanics and Literary Society

The Coniston Institute is a community run village hall in the small village of Coniston, Cumbria. Originally established as a Mechanics’ Institute in the mid 1800’s it was later rebuilt and overseen by John Ruskin.

The new building was built for the then industrial mining village of Coniston. There were facilities such as a bathhouse, kitchen, library, reading room and billiard room as well as an extensive collection of minerals, fossils, pictures and stuffed animals donated by Ruskin & Collingwood. It provided education for all and was designed to give the working classes a fuller and richer life, whilst being instrumental in the education of the workforce in the emerging technologies.

Today, The Institute is a thriving hub of activity with a programme of Live Music, Workshops, and Markets. The rooms can also be hired out for occasions big or small. There is also a public Library Link and Honest Shop attached to the building.

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