Limekilns

We had a potter by Gladhouse reservoir and saw these two limekilns in passing. In 1893, according to maps of that date this was an area of limestone quarries.

On larger-scale maps of 1892-1905 these are identified variously as kiln, old kiln or old limekiln, or on early 1-inch OS maps just as small unnamed structures. Oddly, since 1930 the 1-inch maps have missed them out altogether.

But here they are, in varying states of decay, a remnant of the production of lime by heating limestone with coal. Whether this was on a commercial basis for construction, or for agricultural soil-improver, is not clear.