Substantial and well-preserved lime kiln located in the Coed Maidie B Goddard Nature Reserve, adjacent to the west bank of the river Teifi, southwest of Llechryd.

The kiln is a Grade II Listed Structure (no. 14790) and appears on the 1st edition 25-inch Ordnance Survey map of 1889, though at that date it was out of use and labelled as ‘old’. A sandpit 35 metres to the southwest of the kiln is also labelled as ‘old’. The 1840 Tithe Map and apportionment for the for the hamlet or chapelry of Llechryd in the County of Cardigan, do not label the kiln, though it is potentially depicted on the map as part of the Ffynon Wen complex.

The kiln is neatly constructed of rubble stone which has been cut and horizontally laid. It is built into a bank on its south side and is rectangular in shape, though skewed in plan form. It measures 5.5 metres across its north face, 15.4 metres across the east face and 9.8 metres across its west face and stands nearly 5 metres tall. The north face of the kiln comprises a steeply battered wall. The west and east faces each contain a pointed/triangular kiln eye, 2.8 metres wide, 3.8 metres high and 2.9 metres deep with the side walls narrowing to a point at the rear of each chamber where small draw/firing holes (now obscured) were located.  A small section at the rear of the east chamber has collapsed, revealing the open crucible behind. To the north of each kiln eye, supporting the kiln walls is a battered buttress 1.9 metres wide at the base. The crucible remains open, accessed via the bank on the south side of the kiln, the chamber is constructed of stone with occasional brick.

Abutting the kiln on it’s east side are two walls, an upper section defining the access ramp/bank to the south and a lower wall 2.4 metres high and 5.5 metres long running up to the kiln eye. Between the two walls is an upper terrace, which looks to originally been occupied by a structure, as indicated on the historic Ordnance Survey maps, possibly the lime keepers hut.  A series of holes/slots in the lower wall also suggest some form of structure in front of the kiln eye, perhaps to manage the draw during firing.

The remains of trackways and field boundaries surround the kiln and running close to the north face of the kiln is a stream, which joins the Teifi. This has been artificially channelled in places, offering some protection to the kiln.

This is one of the best preserved and most substantial lime kilns in Ceredigion. It’s location next to the river Teifi enabled the delivery of stone and culm by boat.

Site visit and photography by RCAHMW on 2 July 2024.

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, 5 July 2024

Sources

Cadw Listed Building 14790: https://cadwpublic-api.azurewebsites.net/reports/listedbuilding/FullReport?lang=en&id=14790

National Library Wales: 1840 Tithe map and apportionment for the hamlet or chapelry of Llechryd in the County of Cardigan https://places.library.wales/home

OS 1st Edition 25-inch map (surveyed 1887, published 1889): Pembrokeshire III sheet 14.

OS 2nd Edition 25-inch map (surveyed 1904, published 1906): Pembrokeshire III sheet 14.