Lime kilns

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A large stone structure on a rectangular plan with battered front and side walls, built as a lime kiln, with three openings in its main front; constructed largely of snecked white limestone.

Main front faces east. East elevation has three semi-circular kiln openings. Kiln opening to left has outer arch of purple brick; barrel-vaulted purple brick recess with splayed limestone reveals to sides of opening; purple brick spandrel panel. Four recessed segmental arches in purple brick with rusted iron beam over innermost opening. Opening hole overgrown and difficult to see.

Central kiln similar in form but outer arch is of red brick; splayed reveals of white limestone to front area with purple brick beyond; brick spandrel panel. Three recessed segmental arches in purple brick with rusted iron girders over innermost opening. Yellow firebrick jambs and reveals to innermost opening. Opening hole filled up with debris inside.

Kiln opening to right has outer arch of dressed blackstone voussoirs; blackstone vault and spandrel. Reveals straight, not splayed. Three recessed arches in blackstone with rusted iron girder over innermost opening. Opening filled up with debris and overgrown. Walling around and over right hand kiln is of snecked blackstone surmounted by some courses of white limestone. Across base of structure, projecting stone courses; across top of structure, curved brick cornice with brick blocking course over, but some portions missing.

To right hand side of front, limestone walling built up against north side to intermediate height with brick quoins to extremity of main structure above; remains of rusted iron brackets attached to front wall high up.

South elevation: blank wall of white limestone as to front, surmounted by similar brick courses, partly missing. West or rear face of structure is vertical, not battered; walling as previous, built into the side of a hill. At right hand extremity of surmounting brick courses one brick bears impressed name, but illegible.

North elevation: brick quoins to left hand side above limestone rubble wall; overgrown sloping ground up to rear. Top surface of kilns has three circular charging holes; one to north much overgrown; one in centre partly overgrown; one to south filled up almost to top and roughly grassed over but brickwork inner face revealed for some courses.

Setting: the structure stands facing a main road on an elevated site above the town with a distant view to the Lough from its top. Flanked on each side by rough land with undulating ground running off to the rear to an overgrown quarry.

Historical information

Appears on the OS map of 1903; probably dates from mid-to late 19th century. Built for the burning of limestone, commonly known as chalk, to reduce it to a rough powder for various uses.

References - Primary

1. OS Map 1903, Co Antrim 35.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

B. Proportion
D. Plan Form

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

This is a structure of distinct proportions and plan form which enjoys an impressive setting on an elevated site. It is of local interest as an example of a building type which was once characteristic of this area, and which is close to the town and easily accessible to public view.