A circular lime kiln is located at the top of the foreshore in the small cove of Aberfforest on the north coast of Pembrokeshire. The kiln is marked on the 1st Edition of the OS 25” map published in 1889, but annotated as ‘old limekiln’ on the 2nd Edition 25” map published in 1905. The lime kiln is designated as a Grade II listed building, and the Cadw listing considers it likely to be early 19th century in date. 

The Aberfforest lime kiln is 7m in width (west-east) and c. 5.5m front to back (north-south). The kiln stands to a height of 2.5m on its northern side, 2.75m on its western side, and 2.4m on its eastern side. The kiln-eyes are relatively small and are generally triangular, tapering sharply to a small lintel with only a c.300mm span at the top of the eye. The opening of the western kiln-eye is 1.7m high, 1.5m in width, and 2.5m deep. The opening of the eastern kiln-eye is 1.5m in height, 1.4m in width and 2.1m in depth.  

The crucible of the lime kiln is now infilled leaving only a circular depression in the top of the kiln to indicate its location. The top of the crucible is 2.5m from side to side. Finally, the kiln itself is built against a bank on its southern side, with an access ramp on its eastern side. The ramp runs up a retaining wall, against which the kiln is built, which stretches for 7m west-east and is 2m in height at its western end where it abuts the kiln. A shorter retaining wall, 4m in length, is situated on the western side of the kiln. 

The kiln was visited by the RCAHMW in August 2023 and found to be in good overall condition, aside from the in-filled crucible. It is located on the high-water mark and defended by a single line of relatively small rock armour boulders. As such it is considered to be at risk from coastal erosion, storms, etc. The kiln was recorded via a photogrammetry survey at the time of the visit, which can be viewed here:

Cymraeg: https://skfb.ly/oKroK

English: https://skfb.ly/oKr6S

Contextual Information 

Lime kilns are a characteristic feature along the coastlines of west Wales. They are predominantly of 19th century date, although some were built prior to that, and some continued in use into the 20th century. They were used for burning limestone to make lime for use in agriculture and building. The former through spreading on the fields as a fertiliser and to counteract soil acidity, and the latter to make lime mortar. Their coastal position related to the need in many places to import the limestone for burning, and the culm (coal) that was used for fuel. Proximity to the shoreline reduced the need to move the limestone and coal very far after unloading. 

Coastal lime kilns are generally round or square in shape and normally slightly wider than they are tall. They have a conical opening in their top, called a crucible, into which the limestone and culm was layered. Openings on either side, called the kiln eyes, connected to the base of the crucible and served for lighting the kiln and to allow air to be drawn into the crucible. After burning, the lime could be raked out via the kiln eyes. The kiln eyes come in many different shapes and sizes, from arched, to flat-topped, to tall and narrow. 

Lime kilns were often constructed in pairs, with a small rectangular cottage for the kiln keepers in between them. At smaller landing places only a single kiln might have been built. In nearly all cases some sort of ramp was needed to carry the limestone and coal to a point where it could be added into the crucible from above. Many lime kilns are found built against the valley sides within coves or harbours, allowing the access ramp to be cut from the adjacent bank side, rather than needing to be built.  

Sources 

Cadw Listed Building 12524 https://cadwpublic-api.azurewebsites.net/reports/listedbuilding/FullReport?lang=&id=12524  

Davies, P.B.S., 1997. Pembrokeshire Limekilns. St Davids: Merrivale. 

Dyfed Archaeological Trust HER PRN 30825 https://archwilio.org.uk/her/chi3/report/page.php?watprn=DAT30825  

OS 1st Edition 25" map (published 1889). 

OS 2nd Edition 25" map (published 1905).

J. Whitewright, RCAHMW, September 2023.