Lynmouth Lime Kilns

The Lynmouth lime kilns at the foot of the Cliff Railway date from around 1700 and are a good example of what was once a major industry in North Devon - lime burning. The soil of North -Devon, and particularly of Exmoor, being deficient in natural lime, made it necessary that this mineral be imported. There being practically no road transport in those days, the limestone, had to be brought by sea. There are the remains of lime kilns in most harbours and creeks on the North Devon coast - from Glenthorne to Hartland.

Lynmouth lime Kilns

Other particucarly well preserved examples of lime kilns can be-seen at Heddon's Mouth, Lee Bay and Woody Bay and there are the remairts of kilns in the Watersmeet Valley - some 270 yards above ''Watersmeet House. The limestone was imported from South Wales using sailing ketches and unloaded in Lynmouth harbour or on the open beach, then carried to the kilns in horse-drawn "butts "or carts. T he 'V' shaped kilns were filled with the limestone, which would average about 24 ins. in circumference, above fires lighted at the bottom of the 'V' - originally with charcoal but with coal jn later days. The limestone would disintegrate gradually, the residue being raked out and, when cooled off, was collected by the moorland farmers for spreading on the land and by local builders for making lime mortar. The industry flourished-until about 1910 when the product was superseded by patent manures.

Lynmouth

Contributed by: Pat Ethrey