1. Royal Commission field visit, 17 September 2024.

A square lime kiln is depicted and in use on the 1st Edition 25-inch Ordnance Survey map (published 1889), at the western end of a coastal limestone quarry overlooking Cemaes Bay (NPRN 525340 / 422190). The kiln was labelled as ‘disused’ by the 2nd edition map (published 1900) and ‘old’ on the 3rd edition map (published 1924). It is not depicted on the 1845 tithe map for the parish of Llanbadrig in the County of Anglesey but the quarry is noted in the apportionment.

The lime kiln survives in a fair state of preservation. It is roughly square measuring 8.4 metres across its south face and 7.1 metres along its east and west faces, and stands 4.5 metres high at its west face. It is constructed largely of roughly dressed small to medium sized limestone blocks, with occasional other stones, all bound in lime mortar, and is built against and onto the adjacent limestone quarry face. Access to the top of the kiln and its crucible was to the east of the kiln via a set of steps (brick and concrete) up the quarry face and a wider ramp/incline. To the west of the kiln a ramp leads down to a sheltered cove, and this may have been used to bring in the coal needed to fire the kiln; the limestone presumably coming directly from the quarry.

Three kiln eyes are situated in the east, south and west faces of the kiln, all now blocked with stone walls and vegetation. The western face or the kiln and its associated kiln eye is the most accessible and in the better condition. Here the kiln eye is set against the quarry face and is a rectangular opening 2.2 metres wide and 2.6 metres high with a flat iron bar lintel. The kiln eye is 2.8 metres deep with side walls tapering inwards towards the draw hole which linked to the base of the kiln’s crucible. The roof of the kiln eye is flat, supported by metal girders and larger slab stones. The draw hole in the rear wall of the kiln eye is now blocked with brick and was appears to have been supported by a substantial timber beam. A 1.2 high buttress supports the west face of the kiln running from the kiln eye all the way to kiln’s southern corner. In the quarry face directly adjacent to the kiln eye a small storage? alcove has been cut, whilst above at the top of the quarry face is a stone boundary wall.

The southern face of the kiln stands full height at its western end, but lower at its more degraded eastern end. A stoney slope at the base of this face may represent the remains of a wider foundation course or similar buttressing as seen against the west face. The kiln eye is centrally placed in this face, is 2.3 metres wide but now fully blocked by a stone wall.

Th eastern face of the kiln and its associated kiln eye looks to be largely collapsed and is obscured by vegetation. The main visible element is the southeast corner, which is rounded, a contrast to the clear right-angle corner to the southwest.

At the top of the kiln the crucible is collapsed and filled with vegetation.

The fact that the western face and kiln eye are in a much better condition than the rest of the kiln, combined with the contrasting corners designs suggest potential phasing and possible rebuilding of the structure. It seems likely that the western kiln-eye continued in operation after the other fell out of use.

This is a good example of a coastal lime kiln with associated limestone quarry. It is the better preserved of two limekilns associated with the quarry. The other (NPRN 801121) is now ruinous and within the quarry, 150 metres to the southeast.

Contextual Information 

Lime kilns are a characteristic feature along the coastlines of 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/or 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, 16 October 2024.

Sources

National Library Wales: 1845 Tithe map and apportionment for the parish of Llanbadrig in the County of Anglesey https://places.library.wales/

National Trust Heritage Record ID 42423 / MNA156951 https://heritagerecords.nationaltrust.org.uk/HBSMR/MonRecord.aspx?uid=MNA156951

OS 1st Edition 25-inch map (published 1889): Anglesey II sheet 7.

OS 2nd Edition 25-inch map (published 1900): Anglesey II sheet 7.

OS 3rd Edition 25-inch map (published 1924): Anglesey II sheet 7.

Site Record

Lime Kiln 1, Penrhyn Mawr Quarry, Cemaes Bay