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.

Geography

It was the location of the earliest named mill on Alston Moor, referred to as Blackburn Mill in 1590, 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, west of the hamlet, claimed to be the highest cafe in England at 575m. The cafe burnt down in 2018, with a replacement being granted planning permission in 2024.

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. XX728 was piloted by Flt Lt Leonard Stovin, who was killed.