Kiln - corn-drying

The National Monuments Service's description

Reported (28-9-2021) by Mr Aidan Harte, Project Co-ordinator, Leitrim Sweathouse Project. Depicted and named ‘Sweat Ho.’ on the first edition (c.1835) of the O.S. 6-inch map where it is shown on the E-edge of a farm lane c. 16m SE of a dwelling house and separated from the dwelling by small outbuildings. A limekiln is also shown c. 15m to the NE of the sweathouse. Not recorded on the later, Cassini edition of the map.
Situated in pasture at the top of a short, SW-facing slope. Although no visible surface trace survives, local tradition continues to identify the location along with a recollection that the sweathouse was accessed through a ‘tunnel’

The site was subsequently excavated under archaeological excavation licence number 22E0389 by Mr. Harte and was found to be a corn-drying kiln which comprised a well-preserved stone-lined bowl or chamber (int. diam. 2.9m; H 1.28m) with a lintelled flue (H 0.53m; W 0.45m) extending W (L 3m) from the base. Organic material found included timbers at the base, and the kiln had been filled with clay and stones. The excavated area was backfilled to original ground level.

See attached images: LE036-049----_1 Site viewed from south on 21-9-2021 and LE036-049----_2 Vertical image after archaeological excavation, with north to bottom.

Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy

Date of upload: 3 November 2022