Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Limekiln at Cwrt Herbert
Bishopston, Swansea, Wales
A Grade II listed building in Bishopston, Swansea, designated on 29 September 1999.
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Industrial
- Date of designation
- 29 September 1999
- Locality
- Bishopston
- Town
- Swansea
- Community
- Bishopston
- Unitary authority
- Swansea
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 51.57644, -4.04174
- Cadw reference
- 22378
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1636 map "Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ..." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1636 · Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ... (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1865 · England and Wales. England No. 6. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1891 · Sheet 10. Ordnance Survey of England and Wales. . (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1897 · 247 Swansea (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1920 · Sheet 100. Llanelly. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
Cadw's description
Location
Located in the grounds of Cwrt Herbert, close to the N entrance. Surrounded by trees and the remains of quarrying activity.
History
An isolated limekiln built immediately next to the quarrying site. Lime burning was an important industry in the Gower from the C16, and was particularly significant in the C18 in an era of agricultural improvement. Much of the lime was shipped to SW England, where it was used to sweeten the acid moorland soils. Gower limestone has a high magnesium content, and can be burnt easily, both with wood or coal. This kiln appears to have been rebuilt on the same site, slightly offset to the S. Frequent rebuilding was a common practice with Gower limekilns.
Exterior
Single limekiln of circular plan, standing roughly full height. Massive walls of limestone on splayed plinth. The interior of the kiln chamber is lined in red sandstone, and there is a fire-bar at the base. Draw-arch to NW, with surviving floor and draw-hole to rear. On the NE side is a recess, which appears to be the draw-arch of an earlier kiln: the thick N wall, which now acts as a retaining structure, appears to respect this former opening. The kiln was charged from the higher ground to the S, which was where the limestone was quarried. Recently restored.
Reason for designation
Listed as a good survival of the lime-burning industry in Gower, a significant industry in this part of Wales.
Nearby in the register
- Cwrt HerbertDomesticunder 1 mi
- Herbert's LodgeDomesticunder 1 mi
- St Peter's Chapel & Well, Caswell BayChapelunder 1 mi
- HaresladeDomesticunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.