Archaeology Notes

Event ID 771516

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/771516

NS79SE 84 77049 93053

NS79SE 83 77331 90865 Murrayshall Lime Works (1)

NS79SE 166 76557 90684 Craigend Lime Works

Murrayshall Lime Works (disused) [NAT]

OS 1:10,000 map 1982.

(Location cited as NS 770 930 and name as Cambusbarron Limeworks). Built c. 1850. An unusually long range of six limekilns, of which four are circular in plan, 3-draw, and the other 2 are oval in plan, 4-draw. Of the 15 draw arches, 10 give direct access to drawholes, the others are entrances to tunnels from which pairs of draw arches open. Disused since 1909.

J R Hume 1976.

All the surviving stone-built kilns occupy the customary bankside positions for ease of loading at the kiln head. The impressive 182-ft (55.47m) long frontage of the kilns at Murrayshall II has front openings of uniform height refined with rusticated red sandstone voussoirs. The range evidently erected in two phases, the earlier (W) half being built in coursed rubble with arches of red sandstone, and the other in squared random rubble with grey sandstone dressings. It incorporates six kilns of two different types: the four W kilns are of the three-draw variety with circular charging-holes of inverted cone shape; the two E kilns are of a larger four-draw type, each with a pair of front draw-arches and a round-ended rectangular charging-hole. All draw-arches have single draw-hole points. The wall-head is reinforced by a prominent row of oval iron wall-ties, and the kiln-pots are lined with header-course brickwork.

The works evidently enjoyed the commercial advantages of being connected with the neighbouring Forth and Clyde Junction Rly to the N by means of a tramway which it shared with Hayford Mills (NS79SE 161), situated a short distance to the E.

G D Hay and G P Stell 1986.