Monument Type(s):

• LIME KILN (Post Medieval to 20th century (post-war) - 1540 AD to 1999 AD)
• TRAMWAY (Post Medieval to 20th century (post-war) - 1540 AD to 1999 AD)
• WINDER HOUSE (Post Medieval to 20th century (post-war) - 1540 AD to 1999 AD)
• LIME WORKS (Early 19th century to 21st century - 1800 AD to 2099 AD)
• LIMESTONE QUARRY (Early 19th century to 21st century - 1800 AD to 2099 AD)

Summary

The site of 19th century and later date limeworks and a limestone quarry, which are protected by Scheduling.

Related records

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA5650 - 2004 assessment in connection with the Llanymynech Heritage Area Development Project by CPAT
• ESA6163 - 2001 Archaeological Survey at Llanymynech heritage area, Shropshire, by Archenfield Archaeology Ltd
• ESA4857 - 1998 condition survey and management plan for Llanymynech Rocks Nature Reserve by Malcolm L Reid

Description

A series of adjoining quarries (part of the complex in Wales) connected by Tramway 06643, also served by Tramway 06645. Batteries of lime kilns (19374-6) lie within the quarry complex along its south-eastern side. A further lime kiln battery (04428) associated with this quarry complex lay next to Tramway 06645 <1>

Some of the northern parts of the quarry complex (those mainly in Wales) appear to be in operation, indicated by the titling 'Quarry'. Much of the southern and eastern portions of the complex are covered by spoil and titled as Old Quarry <2><3>

Quarry (dis) <4>

The natural limestone outcrop has been quarried for stone for centuries, possibly even in the Roman period (it was the closest source of building lime to Wroxeter). However, it was the use of lime as an agricultural fertiliser and in mortar which led to large scale quarrying in the 19th and 20th centuries. Quarrying of the exposed faces on the southern side of Llanymynech Hill developed under a series of leases from the Chirk Castle Estate (west side of the hill) and the Bridgeman (later to be known as the Bradford) Estate (east side). Workings in the Chirk Castle part of the hill seem to have been the earlier, and were operating by the mid 18th century. Limekilns were in existence here by at least 1753. In 1766 the rent accounts of the Bradford Estate have detailed references to lime working, suggesting small scale working by the Estate. But these cease in subsequent ledgers, suggesting that the Estate had leased out its interest in the lime. ->

-> Prior to the opening of the Ellesmere Canal in 1796, however, the operations remained relatively small scale, because of the problem of transportation. The canal was built to Llanymynech because of the demand for lime and after it opened, new markets opened up, but largely for quarried limestone: it was too dangerous to transport processed quicklime by water. It was not until the coming of the railways in 1863 that the processed quicklime market really opened up; limestone could also be transported faster and further. The report contains figures for the carriage of limestone to canalside kilns south of Llanymynech. As some of these closed later in the 19th century, the Llanymynech quarries were in the process of constructing their own. But at the beginning, the quarry operators also faced the problem of how to get the limestone from the quarry to the canal, 80m below and 700m away. Initially, transport was by horse and cart, but this method could not cope with increased demand. The first tramway and incline was established in 1806 and gradually an extensive tramway system developed, at first feeding the canal and later the railways. ->

-> Details of the ownership and operation of the quarries themselves are not wholly clear. In the early 19th century, however, there appear to have been two separate companies leasing from the different estates. The Chirk Castle quarries (which by 1827 had become part of the Ruthin Castle Estate) were worked by Davies, Cartwright and Jebb, later taken over by Pickering & Co, which itself was replaced (or re-established as) the Carreghofa Lime Rock Co (by 1844/45). The Bradford quarries were worked by Thomas Yates until c1830, but Pickering & Co certainly took over at least some of his operations by 1835, and the Carreghofa Lime Rock Company was operating on the Bradford Estate by 1860. In the 1850s and a number of other short term leases appear to have been granted [more details in report]. But in 1863, Thomas Savin, who was also a railway contractor for Cambrian Railways, and responsible for the Llanfyllin Branch opening that year, appears to have acquired quarrying leases from both estates. Savin's company went bankrupt in 1868, but his involvement clearly continued at Llanymynech. The company was reborn as the Porthywaen and Llanymynech Lime and Limestone Works, and was based in the Cambrian Buildings, Oswestry. This became the Porthywaen Lime Company later in the 19th century, and moved its base to Llynclys. It was still operating in 1928, although the Llanymynech lime works closed in 1914. There had been a continuing decline in the demand for lime since the late 19th century, and the construction of the Hoffman kiln (apparently a last ditch attempt to revive the fortunes of the lime works) had not been enough to save the works. ->

-> It is likely that the origin in two Estates permanently affected the form of the quarries, for a large promontory of unquarried rock, representing the estate boundary, divides the two original sets of workings. However, both sets of workings seem to have used broadly similar methods, based on clearing benches of rock. To the west this has resulted in a horseshoe shaped quarry (c270m by 150m), whilst to the east a linear rock face (c250m long) has gradually been cut back: between 1863 and 1914 the rock face was cut back by approximately 30m. An area of deeper working in the western quarry may represent the latest (late 19th/ early 20th century) phase of quarrying, associated with a quarry tunnel. A blast shelter or magazine (3 x 2 x 2.5m high) is built into the south face of the main quarry west of the tunnel <5>

The main workings at Llanymynech (in England) were Scheduled in 2006. The lime kilns, associated tramways, structures and other buildings at Llanymynech, together with adjacent Welsh quarries, form a particularly well preserved and complete group of structures relating to a once relatively widespread industry. In particular, the Hoffmann kiln represents the best preserved example of its type in England and provides an additional component found on very few other lime processing sites. ->

-> The monument includes a group of lime kilns, associated tramways, structures and other buildings at Llanymynech. This industrial complex extends over part of the south facing slope of Llanymynech Hill which itself has been partly removed by the quarrying activities. Only a small part of the quarry lies within England and in particular only a 170m length of the quarry face forms part of this monument. A larger area of quarry floor complete with small waste dumps and lengths of tramway embankment survives in Wales. <6>

In 2001 an historical, archaeological and landscape 'tier two' survey of Llanymynech and the surrounding environs and included land that had previously been used for limestone quarrying and a large area of mixed woodland. The development of the site was assessed from the pre-industrial landscape, to the development of the fields, kilns, tramways, canals, railways, plantations other industrial and economic infrastructures. <7>

This site was photographed during aerial photographic survey in 2009. <8><9><10>

In 1998, a condition survey was undertaken and a management plan was prepared for Llanymynech Rocks Nature Reserve, particularly focused on the limestone quarry workings. It has been suggested that the mining here had a Roman origin. Mining for metal ores is known to have taken place on the Hill in the 18th century. The 18th century operations were of a modest scale. It was during the latter half of the 18th century that large scale quarrying of limestone on Llanymynech began. This provided a brief condition survey for a number of elements of this site and set of management recommendations for remedial works. <11>

Briefly mentioned in relation to development of the Llanymynech Branch of the Ellesmere Canal. <13>

Site visit on 21 May 1997 noted a well-preserved quarrying landscape, retaining internal layout and external transport links. Noted to include rare features such as the glory hole working and links to the adjacent lime works; considered of exceptional national importance. The site is described in eight parts. 1. The high quarry face contains visible drill holes and an area of finger type tips and the routes of several tramways. The header blast tunnel could not be located. 2. A glory hole working of c. 1900 formed by a rock cut tunnel into a large open pit in the floor of the quarry. These workings were served by a drum house (stone walls and some metal work survive) and an incline. 3. Remains of a large drum house possibly including a separate brake wheel. 4. Bank of three lime kilns about 6m high each with a single draw eye with iron lintel and poking hole above; there is a low revetment wall in front used for loading lime onto the tramway tracks. These are grade II listed. 5. Bank of two kilns, about 5m high and built of random rubble and buttressed; each with low segmental draw arch and two draw eyes. Grade II listed. 6. Bank of two kilns about 7m high, built of random rubble each with a segmental draw arch and a large draw eye with an iron lintel and poking hole above, Grade II listed. 7. Drum house with two walls of rough courses stone supporting a large wooden drum; two inclines one visible as a track and another as a linear depression between drum house and kiln bank. Grade II listed. 8. Bank of five kilns, about 5m high adjacent to the Ellesmere canal. Grade II listed. The source includes photographs of the quarry face, glory hole, drum house and brake wheel housing, draw arch of lime kilns and lime kiln bank. <14>

Sources

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