Lime Kilns

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A freestanding bank of five lime kilns aligned E/W in the middle of an extensive disused limestone quarry. There are five open circular pots along the top (for loading the quarried lime and coal) and five corresponding draw holes (for the recovery of the burnt lime) along the base of the south elevation.

Three principal phases of construction are evident in the structure. The earliest phase comprises three contiguous kilns along the eastern half of the block. The south and east elevations of this section are of random rubble, slightly battered in profile and with brick quoins on both corners (the north elevation is buried in the bank). Along the base are three splayed draw holes, the brick arches of which are of segmental profile. The east side is shored up with mass concrete buttresses. The second hole from the east end contains a steel bogey into which the burnt lime was discharged. The arch of the third draw hole is higher than the other two.

The second phase comprises the remaining two kilns at the west end of the block. These abut, but are slightly inset from, the three original kilns. They, too, are of random rubble construction but without the brick quoins. The draw hole to the east kiln has been rebuilt with a steel girder head in place of the original arch and the stonework above has been repaired with mass concrete. The draw hole at the west end is similar to the three original ones. There are markings of a lean-to roof over this end draw hole and also the vestiges of an adjoining now-roofless random rubble building (probably an office or store).
As noted in the historical review, these two phases of construction date from the 1800s, but a more precise dating has not been possible on the basis of the available evidence.

The third phase probably dates from the 1920s or ‘30s and entailed the doubling in height of all five pots and the construction of a reinforced-concrete loading platform flush with their heightened tops. It is accessed at its east end by a c.2.5m wide reinforced-concrete ramp rising up from north. An accommodation track is bridged by this ramp, with mass-concrete and concrete block abutments retaining the bank. Towards the kilns, the ramp rests on square concrete block piers.
The cylindrical walls of the heightened kiln pots are of cavity wall construction, with a firebrick inner lining, air gap and concrete block outer skin. Excepting the pot at the east end, the lower halves of the raised sections of the pots are also enclosed by concrete block walls. The east kiln is surrounded by a brick wall. Concrete piers rise from these walls to support the loading platform above.

There is a narrow passage between the first and second kilns at the top of the stone portion of the block to access to the balcony across the frontage. A metal safety rail runs along it but there is no such protective railing around the overhead concrete platform.
The block appears to be in reasonably sound condition, albeit heavily overgrown with ivy. To its north is a brick chimney (HB19/03/065B). The remainder of the site comprises deep quarry pits with exposed limestone faces and basalt overlay, partly flooded and heavily vegetated.

Historical information

A small quarry and a lime kiln are shown hereabouts on the 1832 OS six-inch map. The 1837 Ordnance Survey Memoir notes: “There are four lime kilns constantly burning lime in Knocknadona, which lime is sold to the public from 10d to 1s.3d per barrel. There were others but are discontinued for the present. Tax yearly on each kiln burning lime in this parish 10 guineas. This sum is paid to Lord Hertford for the quarry.” The same quarry and lime kiln are similarly depicted on the 1857 OS map, just NE of Limestone Lodge. The 1859 Valuation book notes Bennett Megarry as the lessee, from the Marquis of Hertford (the lodge was occupied by George Thompson). The 1873 Valuation revision book notes that Megarry had stopped working the quarry and had removed the machinery, including the pump engine.

The site is explicitly captioned as Knocknadona Quarry on the 1901 OS map and a block of four (possibly five) kilns are shown. The fact that it is not cited as ‘disused’ suggests that it had restarted sometime in the later 1800s. Whether the kilns date from the period 1857-73 or were erected after the quarry restarted is, however, uncertain.

The kilns are similarly depicted on the 1920 map. The Valuation revision books note William Belshaw as taking over the quarry c.1919. He also operated other quarries in this area and it was he who probably enlarged the individual kiln pots (see external description). The 1971 map shows a ramp up the back of the kilns at its E end. Operations ceased during the later 1900s.

References – Primary sources
1. PRONI OS/6/1/63/1. First edition OS six-inch map, Co Antrim sheet 63 (1832).
2. Ordnance Survey Memoir for Magheragall Parish (1837). Reprinted as Day, A. & McWilliams, P. (eds) Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland: Parishes of County Antrim VII, 1832-8, South Antrim, p.107 (Belfast: Institute of Irish Studies, 1993).
3. PRONI OS/6/1/63/2. Second edition OS six-inch map, Co Antrim sheet 63 (1857).
4. PRONI VAL/2B/1/62B, Second Valuation book (1859).
5. PRONI VAL/12B/1/6A-E. Valuation revision books (1863-1923).
6. PRONI OS/10/1/63/12/1. First edition OS 25-inch map, Co Antrim sheet 63-12 (1901).
7. PRONI OS/6/1/63/4. Fourth edition OS six-inch map, Co Antrim sheet 63 (1920).
8. PRONI OS/11/164/4/1. OS 25-inch Irish Grid map, sheet 164 (1971).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

This intact bank of five masonry lime kilns, originally built in 19th century and enlarged in the 20th century, is a rare survivor and illustrates the industrial scale of lime burning operations at Knocknadona Quarry. Constructed originally in rubble stone, the cylindrical pots and brick arched draw holes are of structural interest and the structures have group value with the industrial chimney to north (HB19/03/065B). Their interest is enhanced by their substantial enlargements, including concrete loading ramp and platform, in the early 20th century, illustrating the evolution of rural industry and construction techniques in Northern Ireland, during this period. As a masonry structures with no future use this structure is best protected through scheduling.

General comments

Listing criteria R,S & T also apply.

FILE PA'd 16/04/15