Lime Kiln

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A single-pot rubble masonry lime kiln of 19th or earlier 20th C date.
This kiln is located on the SW side of a single-lane road along the rocky shoreline at Murlough Bay and is set on a NE-facing slope with its frontage facing towards the sea.
The kiln is built with squared sandstone rubble brought to courses. Its draw hole is at the base of its facade and comprises a segmental arch which gives into a splayed reveal containing two arches of diminishing size; the innermost is over the actual hole. All the arches have roughly dressed voussoirs. The hole is now largely buried under an accumulation of sediment. On either side of the front arch's crown is a small rectangular damper hole which controlled the rate of burning in the pot.
At the back of the right-hand (NW) elevation is a curved random rubble retaining wall built into the slope. The ground is also reveted on the left side of the frontage to create a level area in front of the draw hole.
The top of the kiln is flat and has a single circular stone-lined pot to centre from which a tree is now growing. Metal bars have been placed over the opening in the interests of public safety.

Setting:
The kiln is situated just above the wave-swept shoreline in an area of open ground at the base of a basalt escarpment. There is a track up the slope to the west of the kiln, from which a small earthen ramp leads across to the top of the pot. There is no obvious limestone quarry in the vicinity and rock falls from the limestone horizon underneath the basalt may have been its source material. The single-lane road in front of the kiln would have been used to take the lime to its points of use.

Historical information

A lime kiln is depicted at this location on the 1832 and 1855 OS maps. A disused lime kiln is captioned on the 1904 map, and 'L.K.' on the 1922 edition. Whilst the map evidence indicates that the present structure is of early 19th C date (if not earlier), it is not impossible that it is a later 19th/ earlier 20th C rebuild of a defunct precursor. Its quality of construction suggests a rebuild.

References - Primary Sources:
1. PRONI OS/6/1/5/1. OS 1:10,560 map, Co Antrim sheet 5 (1832).
2. PRONI OS/6/1/5/2. OS 1:10,560 map, Co Antrim sheet 5 (1855).
3. PRONI OS/10/1/5/16/1. OS 1:2500 map, Co Antrim sheet 5-16 (1904).
4. PRONI OS/10/1/5/16/2. OS 1:2500 map, Co Antrim sheet 5-16 (1922).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
F. Structural System
H-. Alterations detracting from building
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance
X. Local Interest
R. Age
T. Historic Importance
S. Authenticity

Evaluation

A single-pot rubble masonry lime kiln of 19th or earlier 20th C date.
This structure is typical of the style, size and construction of many small rural lime kilns. Its fabric is original, intact and in reasonable repair. Prior to the advent of cement and artificial fertilisers, it would have been of considerable economic value to the local community in producing burnt lime for use as fertilizer, building mortar and whitewash. It is also of local interest, and has group value with a secondlime kiln, located along Murlough Road within the townland of 'Bighouse', which is of similar age, materials and construction.

General comments

Date of Construction may be incorrect.