Kiln - lime

The National Monuments Service's description

Within the grounds of the 14th-century palace for the Bishop of Ossory (KK019-026123-) and 22m N of the N transept of St Canice's Cathedral (KK019-026029-). A limekiln pit uncovered in excavations (11E0157) (Ó Drisceoil 2011, www.excavations.ie; 2012, www.excavations.ie; 2013, 2018). The sub-circular pit (dims. > 1.8 E-W x 1.1m N-S; D 1m) cut the backfilled outer fosse associated with the ecclesiastical enclosure (KK019-026231-) and the natural gravel subsoil. The base of the feature was burnt and covered in a layer of calcined limestone, ash and charcoal, indicating the pit functioned as a rudimentary lime kiln. Rake-out deposits of calcined limestone and ash filled the feature. Highhays Ware pottery in these deposits dates the kiln to the 14th century and it may have been in use for the construction of the nearby Bishop's Palace around 1350. A third of the contents of the pit were excavated but the remainder was preserved in situ.

See attached photograph.

Compiled by: Cóilín Ó Drisceoil

Date of upload: 11 November 2020

References

Ó Drisceoil, C. 2012 The Robing Room, Bishop's Palace, Church Lane, Kilkenny. Licence no. 11E0157. Excavations.ie: database of Irish excavation reports (https:// www.excavations.ie/report/2012/Kilkenny/0023391/ ; accessed 3 August 2020).

Ó Drisceoil, C. 2011 The Robing Room, Bishop's Palace, Church Lane, Kilkenny. Licence no. 11E0157. Excavations.ie: database of Irish excavation reports (https:// www.excavations.ie/report/2011/Kilkenny/0022513/ ; accessed 3 August 2020).

Ó Drisceoil, C. 2013 Excavation and Archaeological Building Survey at the Robing Room, Heritage Council Headquarters (former Bishop’s Palace),
Church Lane, Kilkenny 2011 & 2012 (11E157 & 11E157 ext.): final report. Kilkenny Archaeology (https://www.academia.edu/9523935/Archaeological_Excavations_at_the_Bishops_Palace_Robing_Room_Saint_Canices_Cathedral_Close_Kilkenny; accessed 5 November 2020).

Ó Drisceoil, C. 2018 From Gaelic church settlements to Anglo-Norman towns: problems and possibilities. In H.B. Clarke and Sarah Gearty (ed.), More maps and texts: sources and the Irish Historic Towns Atlas, 115-34. Dublin. Royal Irish Academy.