“Lime,” a crucial ingredient for agriculture, building, and more. Here stands the Lime Kiln. These kilns are remnants of Stonehouse’s industrial past. They whisper tales of a time when limestone was king.
Lime Kilns played a vital role. They turned raw limestone into a usable product. Limestone was essential for agriculture. It helped crops grow. The building industry also relied on lime. It was used in mortar and plaster. Even paper making needed lime.
The Stonehouse area was rich in limestone. The seam stretched from northwest Glasgow to beyond Carluke. This geological feature held organic remains like shells. These remains provided clues about the past. The value of limestone depended on its calcium carbonate content.
Farmers added calcium carbonate to soil lacking lime. They used marl, burnt lime, or slaked lime. Burnt or slaked lime was stronger than marl. It broke down into a finer substance. Coal mines also used ground limestone. It helped prevent coal dust explosions.
Records from 1790 mention lime mining in Stonehouse. Reverend James Morehead noted its use in farming. Lime was sold in shells. A kiln held 100 bolls of flaked lime.
Visible remains of limestone mining exist in the parish. The main seam is visible on the Avon River. Another mine existed near Cot Castle. Limestone thickness varied. Some seams reached up to ten feet.
The Lime Kiln at Cot Castle dates back to at least 1816. In 1836, Reverend Hugh Dewar praised the area’s high quality lime. Local coal fueled the lime burning process. In that year, 14 lime burners were employed. Census records list men working in lime extraction.
Around 1850, nearly 50 limestone mines operated in Lanarkshire. By 1950, none remained. The industry declined due to exhausted supplies. Mining replaced quarrying which increased costs. Better transport made it cheaper to get lime from elsewhere. Local lime burning became unnecessary.
The 1861 records suggest a decline in the lime industry. By 1904, the Lime Kiln was no longer in use. Today, two Lime Kilns remain on the banks of the Avon. They are single-draw kilns set into the bank. They feature arched draw holes and buttresses. For safety, they have been infilled.
You can access the Lime Kiln from Cot Castle. Alternatively, follow the river from Glassford Bridge. If you are keen on local history, the Lime Kiln is worth a visit. It shows the industrial development of Stonehouse’s past. These silent structures speak volumes. They remind us of Stonehouse’s industrious roots.