On our way back from our last trip to the Lake District, we stopped at Keswick (that’s pronounced Kez-ick for those who don’t know 😊) in Cumbria, home of the Pencil Museum and decided to have a look.

Pencil Museum?

Yes, a PENCIL museum and a very surprisingly interesting one at that. Admittedly, there was some resistance to visiting it by some, however I have always been intrigued…..

Of course, it may spawn a few pencil puns and jokes throughout this blog so be prepared!

The whole story of the museum centres on a chance find in the 1500’s by a group of shepherds after a violent storm in the Borrowdale Valley exposed a black cake-like substance, later identified as graphite.

The shepherds thought it was coal and attempted to burn it, which didn’t work. Instead, it just left marks on their hands. They then wrapped it in leather and used it to mark their sheep to denote ownership. According to the museum this is probably the earliest example of what would become known as ‘the pencil’.

Sharp…and it doesn’t sound a bit sketchy 😊

By the 1700’s graphite was more valuable than gold. Equivalent in today’s terms at about £1500 per kilogram. This led to illegal trading and shady dealings. In fact, the term ‘black market’ comes from the act of smuggling graphite as it marked the smugglers hands so it was difficult to hide.

By 1832 the first pencil factory was established in Keswick (now the site of the museum), leading to the creation of Derwent Fine Art Pencils which are still manufactured in the region.

Different gradings of pencils (HB etc) are also explained.  I once had a pencil that supposedly belonged to William Shakespeare. After so much use, I can’t tell if it’s 2B or not 2B 😊

Also, at the museum is the world’s biggest pencil, the world’s rarest pencil and the secret World War 2 pencil.

As part of a bit of fun, you can opt to do the museum trail which is a questionnaire to complete. Capture all the answers and get a prize at the end…obviously related to items contained in the museum.

There is also an opportunity to buy some high end drawing pencil sets in the gift shop if you are suitably inspired!

A truly fascinating little museum highlighting how much we owe to the humble pencil.

So, what did the pencil say to the sharpener?

Without you, my life would be pointless.

That’s the last one I promise 😊

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