Substantial lime kiln, in a good though deteriorating condition, situated against the east bank of the river Teifi, 65 metres to the southwest of Old Castle Farm.

The kiln is a Grade II Listed Structure (no. 1059) and appears on the 1st edition 25-inch Ordnance Survey map published c.1890, though at that date it was out of use and labelled as ‘old’. The 1846 Tithe map and apportionment for the parish of St Mary Cardigan in the County of Cardigan shows and labels the kiln as part of Old Castle Farm, then occupied by John Williams.

The kiln is neatly constructed from coursed limestone (the listed building description noting blue lias stone), which has been cut and tooled (tool marks are clear) into neat rectangular blocks. The stone is bound with lime mortar and there is evidence within the kiln eye chambers of the walls being limewashed. An undated old photograph held by the owner, suggests that the whole structure may originally have been limewashed. Some small square holes in the exterior face of the structure may be original putlog holes.

The kiln sits on estuarine mud and is built into the adjacent riverbank on its north side. Access to the top of the kiln for loading was on the east side of the kiln, where a ramp partially survives. Some collapsed stonework suggests this may originally have been revetted. The kiln and area around it are regularly inundated at high tides, as indicated by surrounding debris and discolouration of the lower 5 courses of the structure, where the lime mortar is now actively being removed.

The structure is near square in shape, its front south wall measuring 6.42 metres across and standing some 5 metres high. There is a suggestion of a slight batter to the upper section of this face. The two side walls are not at perfect right angles to the front face and thus the overall plan is slightly skewed. The west face of the kiln measures 6.4 metres, the rear section of which is largely obscured by slippage of the adjacent riverbank. There is also some collapse of the stonework at the junction with the riverbank. The east face of the kiln is largely obscured by dense vegetation.

The west and east faces of the kiln each contain a kiln eye, the entrance into the chamber triangular above straight lower jambs. The west kiln eye measures 2.4 metres wide and 2.9 metres high and the kiln eye chamber is 3.4 metres deep with the side walls narrowing to a point at the rear where a rectangular draw/firing hole is located at ground level. This remains open and measures 0.73 metres in width, the opening supported by a thin metal lintel. Above this opening both kiln eyes have a second opening into the kiln crucible 0.43 metres wide by 0.27 metres high. This is not a usual feature found in lime kilns.

The top of the kiln is very overgrown and not accessible, though the Listing Report notes low parapet walls surviving on the west and south sides. The kiln crucible remains open, is circular some 3 metres in diameter at the top and narrowing to the base, and is stone lined.

This is one of the best preserved and substantial lime kilns in Ceredigion. It’s location next to the river Teifi enabled the delivery of limestone and culm by boat, most likely from Pembrokeshire. Information provided by the owner of the kiln is that it was constructed/used by Mr Woodward, owner of the Cardigan Brickworks. It is similar in form to the lime kiln located in the Coed Maidie B Goddard Nature Reserve, also on the river Teifi, southwest of Llechryd (NPRN 800789).

Site visit, photography and survey by RCAHMW, 18 February 2025.

A Sketchfab model resulting from a ground photogrammetry survey comprising 60 images is viewable here: https://skfb.ly/p9VGC

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.

Louise Barker, RCAHMW, 19 February 2025

Sources

Cadw Listed Building 10549: https://cadwpublic-api.azurewebsites.net/reports/listedbuilding/FullReport?lang=en&id=10549

Moore-Colyer, R. J., 1988 Of Lime and Men: Aspects of the coastal trade in lime in south west Wales in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Welsh History Review, 1, 54-77.

Moore-Colyer, R. J., 1990 Coastal Limekilns in South West Wales. Folk Life, 28, 19-30.

Moore-Colyer, R. J., 1992 Coastal Limekilns in South West Wales and their Conservation. In C. S. Briggs (ed), Welsh Industrial Heritage: a review, CBA Research Report, 79

National Library Wales: 1846 Tithe map and apportionment for the parish of St Mary Cardigan in the County of Cardigan https://places.library.wales/

OS 1st Edition 25-inch map (surveyed c.1888, published 1890): Pembrokeshire II sheet 12.

Site Record

Lime Kiln, Old Castle Farm