Two circular lime kilns are located near the foreshore at The Slade in Fishguard. Both are marked as limekilns on the 1st Edition of the OS 25” map as well as a rectangular structure shown to the west of, and directly adjacent to, the western (uphill) kiln, which is probably the lime burner's hut. By the time of the publication of the 2nd Edition they are marked as ‘Old Limekilns’ suggesting they had fallen into disuse by that point.
The lime kilns are situated in a west-east aligned valley, and are built against the northern side of the valley, with kiln-eyes on their western and eastern sides. Both crucibles have been filled in. The kilns are built against a retaining wall running west-east, the top of which is level with the top of each kiln. The wall extends for 6m to the west of the western kiln, and for a length of 4.9m between the two kilns. There is no sign on the ground, of the lime burner’s hut indicated on the historic mapping as being situated on the northern side of the western extent of the retaining wall.
Fishguard Lime Kiln 1 is the westernmost (upslope) kiln and is considered the earlier of the two by the HER description (PRN 20118). It is 5.3m in width (west-east) and 3.3m front to back (south-north). The kiln stands to a height of 2.85m on its southern side, 2.65m on its western side, and 3.5m on its eastern side. The kiln-eyes are curved in plan with pointed arches and terminate against the retaining wall on their northern side. The opening of the western kiln-eye is 1.95m high, 2.45m in width, and 2.45m deep. The eastern (downhill) kiln-eye has vertical sides to its lower half to accommodate the fall in the ground level and is 2.3m high, 2.4m wide and 2.5m deep.
Fishguard Lime Kiln is the eastern (downslope) and larger of the two kilns. It is 7.8m in width (west-east) and 4.4m front to back (south-north). The kiln stands to a height of 4.2m on its southern side, and 3.55m on its western side. The eastern side is damaged, including the kiln-eye, is partially collapsed, and inaccessible for direct measurement behind a low fence. The western kiln-eye is curved in plan with a pointed arch and terminates against the retaining wall on its northern side. The opening of the western kiln-eye is 2.4m high, 2.4m in width, and 2.75m deep.
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 26067 https://cadwpublic-api.azurewebsites.net/reports/listedbuilding/FullReport?lang=&id=26067
Davies, P.B.S., 1997. Pembrokeshire Limekilns. St Davids: Merrivale.
Dyfed Archaeological Trust HER PRN 20118 https://archwilio.org.uk/her/chi3/report/page.php?watprn=DAT20118
OS 1st Edition 25" map (published 1889)
OS 2nd Edition 25" map (published 1905)
J.Whitewright, RCAHMW, February 2023.