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This extraordinary place is famous for its amazing wildlife, stunning scenery, and superb walks. From the seasonal abundance of stunning butterflies to the shining sands of Morecambe Bay, the area is simply awe-inspiring - full of natural spectacles and a surprise around every corner.
Limekilns
What is limestone and what was it used for?
Limestone in the AONB area is a sedimentary rock composed mainly from the of remains of coral and mollusc shells. The rock was formed during the carboniferous period of the earth’s geological history between 363 and 325 million years ago.
The lime powder extracted from limestone has been in use for thousands of years for as a soil improver and a binding ingredient used in building materials such as bricks, mortar and plaster.
The Greeks and Romans used lime for use in their pavements and aqueducts. In the UK lime powder was used in the building of castles. Lime has disinfectant properties and was mixed with water for painting as ‘limewash or ‘ whitewash’ on internal walls of houses and churches. It is still in use today.
The use of lime increased considerably during the agrarian and industrial revolutions. Following the Enclosure Act of 1773, over a million additional acres of land were gradually cultivated. Much of land was of poor quality and lime was used as soil enhancer to increase crop yield.
The manufacturing revolution led to increased demand for factories, housing and transport. The demand for lime reached an all-time high.
What is a lime kiln and what was it used for?
Lime powder has to be extracted from the limestone before it can be used. The limestone rock would have been quarried from the local area. This would have been done by labourers using explosives and hand tools to breakdown the rock into pieces small enough to be fired in a lime kiln. Stone-built lime kilns were built into the slope on a limestone hill.
The bowl on the top would be filled with a layer of wood and crushed lime stone, the hearth would be fired with available wood. The temperature needs to be kept constant. Once the rock disintegrated the lime could be raked out and either sent to factories for processing into building materials or for spreading on fields.
Why were there lime kilns in this area?
The majority of the 36 known lime kilns were built in the late 18th century and early 19th century. The area had a plentiful supply of the raw materials needed to build the kilns and produce lime – woodland and limestone. Farmers had them built on their land, local families would pool resources to build one.
The lime kilns in the AONB were mainly used to produce lime for agriculture.
Lime production in the area started to decline in the 1850s. The development of cheaper, more efficient methods of quarrying and transporting limestone and lime saw a decline in the use of local lime kilns.
They gradually fell into a state of disrepair (some even disappearing completely).
Several of the most notable or accessible kilns were restored or consolidated during the Limestone Heritage Project between 2001 and 2007.
by Elaine King
Further Reading
Fell End Farm – Cumbria Limekilns Index
Lime Kilns in Cumbria – Visit Cumbria
Bottoms Lane Lime Kiln, Silverdale, Cumbria – Ovens and Kilns on Waymarking.com
Waterslack Farm – Cumbria Limekilns Index
The Limeburner & The Kiln – Arnside & Silverdale AONB
Lime Kilns: History and Heritage, David Johnson
Some notable lime kilns in the AONB
(Including kilns restored by the Limestone Heritage Project)
Location: SD 469 752, w3w///harmonica.hilltop.caressing
Low Wood Edge – visible from a distance
Location: SD 489 798, w3w///hurricane.brains.snipe
Brackenthwaite, Yealand Redmayne – visible from a distance
Location: SD 49098 77233, w3w///impresses.nursery.allergy
Peter Lane, Yealand Conyers
Location: SD 500 739, w3w///mankind.sues.applies
Coldwell Lime Works, Yealand Redmayne – visible from a distance
Location: SD 4759 7795, w3w///economics.bluffing.finishes
Sandside Quarry – double kiln tower alongside the quarry access road at Sandside
Location: SD 48000 80875, w3w/// files.desks.expansion
Fell End Farm, Hale
Location: SD 506 780, w3w///oval.argued.trees
Hyning Scout Wood, Warton
Location: SD 503 731, w3w///slopes.stands.obstinate
Jack Scout, Sand Lane, Silverdale
Location: SD 460 739, w3w///realm.narrating.paves
Crag Road, Warton – visible from the road
Location: SD 496 724, w3w///ahead.monument.comforted
Arnside Tower Lime Kiln – visible from a distance
Location: SD 45890 76861, w3w///mulls.bouncing.depth
Thrang Brow Lane – visible from the road
Location: SD 493 762, w3w///trailing.wreck.muddy
List of Known Lime Kilns in the AONB
Arnside
- Arnside Tower
- Blackstone Point
- Briery Bank – no longer visible
- Hollins Lane – no longer visible
- New Barns – no longer visible
- Parkside – no longer visible
Beetham, Sandside & Storth
- Beetham Hall – no longer visible
- Fell End Farm, Hale – renovated during Limestone Heritage Project
- Hazelslack – renovated during Limestone Heritage Project, on private land
- Kellet Cottage – no longer visible
- Leighton House
- Sandside Quarry – renovated during Limestone Heritage Project
- Slackhead – on private land
- Wood Edge
Silverdale
- Bottoms Farm – renovated during Limestone Heritage Project
- Jack Scout – renovated during Limestone Heritage Project
- The Row – no longer visible
- Trowbarrow Quarry – dismantled but site visible
- Waterslack
- Wolf House – no longer visible
Warton
- Boon Town Farm
- Crag Road – renovated during Limestone Heritage Project
- Hyning Road – renovated during Limestone Heritage Project
- Occupation Road – no longer visible
- Scout Crag – renovated during Limestone Heritage Project
Yealand Conyers
- Leighton Road – no longer visible
- Moss Lane Farm – no longer visible
- Peter Lane
- Summer House Hill
Yealand Redmayne
- Brackenthwaite – renovated during Limestone Heritage Project
- Coldwell Lane
- Coldwell Lime Works – renovated during Limestone Heritage Project
- Storrs Farm – no longer visible
- Thrang Brow
- Thrang End – no longer visible
- Yealand Hall – no longer visible