Leadgate, Cumbria

Leadgate is a small hamlet located at the foot of Hartside Fell between the town of Alston and the village of Garrigill in the parish of Alston Moor in Cumbria, England.

Leadgate
Leadgate above Black Burn
Leadgate Location in Eden, Cumbria Show map of the former Eden District Leadgate Location within Cumbria Show map of Cumbria
OS grid reference	NY706437
Civil parish	Alston Moor
Unitary authority	Westmorland and Furness
Ceremonial county	Cumbria
Region	North West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ALSTON
Postcode district	CA9
Dialling code	01434
Police	Cumbria
Fire	Cumbria
Ambulance	North West
UK Parliament	Penrith and Solway
List of places UK England Cumbria 54.788°N 2.456°W / 54.788; -2.456

Geography

It was the location of the earliest named mill on Alston Moor, referred to as Blackburn Mill in 1590,^[1] situated on the Black Burn beck and still shown as a corn mill on the 1861 1:2500 scale Ordnance Survey map.

The Hartside Fell is a prominent feature of the area. The cafe on the top of Hartside Pass, 4 miles (6,400 m) west of the hamlet, claimed to be the highest cafe in England at 575m. The cafe burnt down in 2018,^[2] with a replacement being granted planning permission in 2024.^[3]

History

1985 mid-air collision

On Monday 7 October 1985, two Jaguars collided at Hartside Pass from 6 Sqn at RAF Coltishall. XX731 was piloted by Flying Officer Steve Friday, who ejected, who was found at the A689 at Slaggyford, and was taken to Cumberland Infirmary.^[4][5] XX728 was piloted by Flt Lt Leonard Stovin, who was killed.^[6]