Visited and surveyed by UAV for photogrammetry by Louise Barker, Julian Whitewright and Toby Driver of the Royal Commission, 3rd April 2025.
A Sketchfab 3D model of the lime kiln resulting from the photogrammetric survey is available to view here https://skfb.ly/pvHwZ
A substantial and well-preserved square lime kiln, situated within fields overlooking North Haven on Skomer Island. This is one of two lime kilns surviving on the Island. The other (NPRN 411752), also overlooking North Haven is thought to be the older of the two (Howells 1968: 63 and Davies 1997: 45).
The kiln is a Grade II Listed Structure (no. 19406) and appears on the 1st edition 25-inch Ordnance Survey map published in 1875. At this date the kiln was in use, but by the second edition map of 1908 it was out of use and labelled as ‘old’. It is not depicted on the 1842 Tithe Map and Apportionment for the Island.
The kiln is neatly constructed from local island rubble stone and was bound and possibly originally rendered with lime. It is constructed on a level terrace within a prehistoric field system (NPRN 415716). The rear (west side) of the kiln is built into a field lynchet and this earthwork feature looks to have been modified to create a ramp leading to the top of the kiln for loading on the south side and potentially a platform for a structure? Or similar ramp on the north side. The present-day paths around the kiln follow the line of those depicted on the historic Ordnance Survey mapping and would also have been used to deliver the limestone and coal, landed at North Haven.
The structure is near square in shape, its front east wall measuring 5.5 metres across and standing some 3.1 metres high. The north and south faces of the kiln each contain a kiln eye, the entrance into these chambers comprising straight lower jambs which then narrow to T-bar cast iron lintels. The north kiln eye entrance measures 1.9 metres wide and 1.9 metres high with the chamber 2.05 metres deep. The side and back walls of the chamber narrow towards the rear and there is clear evidence of lime render. A large flat stone defines the chamber roof. At the rear of the chamber is a rectangular draw/firing hole at ground level. This remains open and measures 0.46 metres in width, the opening supported by a stone block. Above this opening is a second 0.21 metre square opening also through to the kiln crucible. Aside from the local rubble stone there is also evidence for the use of cast iron and red sandstone (non-local) in the chamber. The kiln eye in the south face is of similar build and form. Here, use of sandstone is more evident in the chamber and the T-bar cast iron lintel at the entrance to the chamber bears the heavily weathered manufacturers inscription.
At the top of the kiln, there is evidence for a low parapet wall around the north, east and south sides, some 0.35 metres wide and now just 0.15 metres high. To the west of the crucible is a stone pavement laid over the top of the lynchet which acts as the loading platform. The kiln crucible is exceptionally well preserved and fully open. It is 2.8 metres in diameter at the top, narrowing to the base. The lining of the crucible is constructed of vertically laid stones above the draw/charging holes and horizontal below. There is a shelf into the crucible above each draw hole, perhaps to hold a grate. There is evidence for vitrification of the kiln lining in the upper section.
This is one of the best-preserved lime kilns in Pembrokeshire, the only deterioration being the collapse of the facing stones at the western end of the south face, which retains the loading platform. Possible evidence in the building fabric suggest that some reconstruction/consolidation of uncertain date may have taken place. The use of cast-iron lintels in the kiln eyes and a section of cast iron at a similar height in the east face of the kiln, might indicate some rebuilding of the upper section of the kiln. There is a clear horizontal line in the east face at this point and the stone above the kiln eye on the south side of the kiln is of a distinctly brighter colour.
Contextual Information
Lime was important on the island both to be used as mortar for the buildings and to spread on the land as a fertilizer, the volcanic rocks of the Island not giving rise to a naturally fertile soil. Limestone and culm/coal would have been imported from the mainland, landed on the beach at North Haven and then moved to the kilns where it would be heated. The intense heat changed the rock, making in brittle and easy to crush to a fine powder ready for use.
That this kiln was in use on the Ordnance Survey mapping of 1875, may coincide with the period of redevelopment of the farm in the centre of the island, with a new farm house and associated buildings (NPRN 401141) built between 1842 and 1875. It is also interesting to note the use of similar T-bar iron lintels to the building range (the earlier farm NPRN 423442) situated to the north of the farm house.
Louise Barker, RCAHMW, 12 May 2025.
Sources:
Cadw Listed Building 19406: https://cadwpublic-api.azurewebsites.net/reports/listedbuilding/FullReport?lang=&id=19406
Davies, P. 1997. Pembrokeshire Limekilns. (St Davids: Merrivale).
Heneb Historic Environment Record: https://archwilio.org.uk/her/chi3/report/page.php?watprn=DAT16183
History of Skomer Island -The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales, NJR 07/10/2010
Howells, R. 1968 The Sounds Between. (J D Lewis: Gomerian Press, Llandysul)
Ordnance Survey 1st Edition 25-inch map, 1875. Pembrokeshire XXXI/7
Ordnance Survey 2nd Edition 25-inch map, 1908. Pembrokeshire XXXI/7
Tithe Map and Apportionment (National Library Wales) 1842 Plan of the parish of Saint Martin in the County of Pembroke https://places.library.wales/