Derbyshire Limekilns
 Limekilns at Harpur Hill, near Buxton c1910.
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Limestone continues to be of considerable economic importance
in Derbyshire, and in the Peak District in particular. Limeburning has been
undertaken for many centuries in the county and the remains are widespread.
In all the pre-19th century limeburning complexes, the quarries are shallow and the limestone was burnt in kilns set in circular earthen mounds. The quarries are normally upslope of the kiln and there are large waste heaps of ash, slag and burnt coal on the downslope side. When production carried on over a long period there is a large number of kilns as it was better to build a new kiln rather than transport the limestone over greater distances. In the late 18th century the Dove Holes area was linked to the
lowland canal network via the Peak Forest Tramway. With the advent of railways
and better road networks, limeburning on an industrial scale was also developed
elsewhere in the Peak, as for example in the Wye Valley at Millers Dale, and
at Cauldon Low to the south-west. |
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| © David Kitching 2023 | Page last updated 24.12.2023 |
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