Lime Kiln, Botera Upper Road, Omagh, Co Tyrone BT78 5LH

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Continuous draw lime kiln, built c.1870, located to the east side of Botera Upper Road. Square-on-plan, retaining grassy bank.

Construction is squared and coursed rubble, consisting of large circular opening lined with rubble stone, to exhaust fumes and stoke fire. Walls are squared rubble with fieldstone quoins.

Principal elevation faces west and consists of a large square-headed recess with timber lintel; within opening rear wall steps back from the lintel (forming outside wall of circular furnace), supported at each level by a large stone and later iron joist; square-headed draw hole at base; lowered area to front, probably later in date, with flagstone surface down by two steps at north.

North and south elevations partially recessed within bank; exposed section at south is abutted by sandstone steps giving access to upper level.

The circular bowl of the kiln is coursed rubble stone using smaller stones.

Some repairs to top courses of stone.

Setting

Kiln has a roadside location with access from north to yard at upper level; bounded on each side by wire fencing and vegetation.

Roof N/A
Walling Squared rubble
Windows N/A
Rainwater goods N/A

Historical information

The kiln first appears on the third edition OS map of 1905-6, uncaptioned. On the fourth edition it is captioned as a limekiln.

Mitchell & Ryan point out that the lime-kiln “where small quantities of limestone had been burnt with peat or coal at least since the eighteenth century” was “one of the characteristic features of the Irish landscape”. The burnt limestone was primarily used as a fertiliser but, under the Marshall Plan following the second World War, ground limestone was made available at subsidised prices and this brought an end to domestic lime fertiliser production. Limestone is the principal bedrock over much of Ireland, although it is less usual in Northern Ireland, where Fermanagh and Tyrone are the main sources. (p.123, 345)

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/6/34/3 – Third Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1905-6)
2. PRONI OS/6/6/34/4 – Fourth Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1936-7)

Secondary Sources

1. Mitchell, F and Ryan, M “Reading the Irish Landscape”, Dublin: Town House, 1997

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
F. Structural System
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Lime kiln, built c.1870, located to the east side of Botera Upper Road. The structure remains largely unchanged, and its function can be seen clearly in the arrangement of openings. The access steps survive, as does the earthen ramp to the top. The bowl of the kiln demonstrates fine workmanship in rubble stone. The kiln, probably used for agricultural purposes although no longer in use, represents the development of farming and rural industry in the area and is a good example of a sort that has more substance than the common type.