Elterwater - Swans and Gunpowder

Elterwater is a small village in the Langdale Valley, about half a mile north-west of the small lake from which it gets its name. The name ‘elter’ is thought to derive from the Norse for swan, and swans are still a common sight on the lake.

At one time the inhabitants of the village were involved in farming and slate quarrying. Just outside the village, there was also a gunpowder factory, built on the site of a 17th century woollen mill. The Gunpowder Works opened in 1823 and remained in business for just over a century until the 1930’s depression and the development of more modern explosives like dynamite. Evidently it had a good safety record with only 4 fatal explosions in over 100 years. One story from that era is that the walls of the estate were full of money. The workers were paid in cash and hid money in the wall before they took their pay packets home, so that they could recover it later to spend in the pub!

The site of the works was developed and became known as the Langdale Estate. It had a hotel, several small cottages and some rustic sleeping cabins. Then, in the 80’s, it was converted into a luxury hotel and country club, with over 80 Scandinavian-type lodges which are now let out on a timeshare basis.

Today the most well-known building in the village itself is the Britannia Inn, which is over 400 years old and was a farmhouse before becoming a coaching inn. Now it’s a very popular pub which is usually crowded in the summer months.