have ranged from during February 1986, to during August 1990. The nearest Met Office weather station is Grizedale, around 2.5 miles to the South East. Mining and minerals Two slate quarries still operate at Coniston, one in Coppermines Valley, the other at Brossen Stone on the east side of the Coniston Old Man. Both work Coniston's volcanic slates, being blue at Low-Brandy Crag in Coppermines Valley, and light green at Brossen Stone (bursting stone). The scenery around Coniston derives from Coniston Limestone and rocks of the Borrowdale Volcanic Group. Services Coniston is also an important local centre, with a secondary school (John Ruskin School), primary school (Coniston Church of England Primary School), bank, petrol station and other such services. It has also repeatedly been highly placed in the Village of the Year award, winning it in 1997. Twinning The village is twinned with Illiers-Combray. The French village is associated with Marcel Proust for whom Ruskin's work was a source of inspiration. Gallery See also Listed buildings in Coniston, Cumbria Coniston Hall Coniston Mountain Rescue Team John Ruskin School Henry Robinson Hall References External links Coniston Community Website Coniston Mountain Rescue Team Coniston Webcam – A view of Coniston village. Lakelandcam- daily walkabout photos centered on Coniston and environs Cumbria County History Trust: Church Coniston (nb: provisional research only - see Talk page) Cumbria County History Trust: Hawkshead and Monk Coniston with Skelwith (nb: provisional research only – see Talk page) Villages in Cumbria Furness Civil parishes in Cumbria