Northumberland Limekilns

 


Kiln 1 at Botany Quarry, Parish of Bewick

 

The demand for lime to improve agriculture in Britain rose rapidly in the eighteenth and into the nineteenth century. In areas where limestone was found there developed a local industry with field kilns supplying the surrounding area within a few miles carting distance. In Northumberland there also developed a coastal trade with ships carrying burned lime to a range of destinations from larger banks of kilns situated at suitable harbours. With the coming of the railways many of the earlier kilns were closed down as it became economic to produce lime at large comercial units which supplied whole regions.

Today there are examples of all of these phases in the history of limeburning to be found across Northumberland and seeking them out can provide many pleasant walks and an introduction to some beautiful countryside.

There is not much written on the subject but a good start is: 'Lime Kilns of North Northumberland' by J.W. Bainbridge, in History of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club, vol. 45, part 2 (1991) pp. 111-138.

If you have any comments please let me know.

Adderstone Agarshill Fell
Angerton Ayle
Bateinghope Burn Beadnell
Beadnell Colliery Beamwham
Belling Rigg Bellshill West
  Birtley
Black Heddon Blakelaw, Bellingham
Bonaparte's Hill Botany Quarry Kiln 1 Bewick
Botany Quarry Kiln 2 Bewick Bowershield
Bradley Hall Brunton Quarry
Budle Bay Burton Farm
Butter Crags Cargies Plantation
Carrshield Carrshield kiln 2
Cat Inn Chatton Colliery Farm
Christon Bank Closehead Quarry
Cocklaw Cocklawburn
Colwell Craggyhall
Crindledykes Cuddy's Crag
  Dryburn
Dunstan Square Dykehead
Easington Far Skerr
Fell End Farm Fourstones
Grasslees Great Tosson
Green Carts Greenchesters
Hadwin's Close Haltwhistle Burn
Harlaw Hill Hanging Shaw
Hazelrigg Hemmel Rigg
Hetton Limeworks High Hartington
Hobberlaw Kiln Rigg
  Limestone Hill
Lindisfarne Littlemill Kiln 1
Littlemill Kiln 2 Low Alwinton
Middleton Mount Hooley Dean
Ninebanks  
Park Shield Rock, Rennington
Seahouses Shellbraes
Shilbottle Spartywell
Spindlestone Thornbrough
Thorngreen Quarry Todholes
Tower Tye Walltown
Wardshill Warenton Kiln 1
Warenton Kiln 2 West Crag, Shotley
White House, Capheaton Whitehouse
 

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© David Kitching 2024
Page last updated 10.8.2024