Lismore, Port Kilcheran, Double Limekiln

NM 825 386. Port Kilcheran is a small bay situated on the SE coast of Lismore, about 200 m SE of Kilcheran House (No. 257). Bishop John Chisholm established a lime-burning industry there soon after the Roman Catholic Highland Seminary occupied Kilcheran House in 1803, and bricks for lining the kiln were being shipped from Glasgow in 1804 (The Innes Review, viii (1957), 31-2). When Walter Scott visited the area in 1814, he recorded in his journal 'Chisholm has established a seminary ... and what is a better thing, a valuable limework. Reports speak well of the lime ... .' (Lockhart, J G, Memoirs of Sir Walter Scott (1822), iv, 343). Despite this good reputation, the lime-works were never profitable, and there is no evidence that they remained in operation after the departure of the seminary in 1828 (The Innes Review, viii (1957), 32).

The earliest structure on the site (Plate 118A) is a freestanding single kiln constructed of harled rubble masonry, which measures 6'7 m from N to S by 6'1 m transversely over all and stands to a height of about 6 m. In the N and E sides there are openings with arch pointed heads roughly formed by corbelled stones; that on the N has an aumbry above the lintel of the drawhole. There is no surviving means of access to the top of the kiln, and a cottage of mid-19th-century date abuts it on the W. About 14 m to the N there is another building, 7.6 m in height, which measures 12'2 m from N to S by 10'7 m transversely over all; the NE and SE angles are bevelled. The W part of this structure contains two barrel-vaulted store-rooms, each measuring 4'9 m by 3.8 m, while the E portion forms a double kiln, each kiln having two draw-holes. The draw-holes set in the bevelled angles have segmental outer arches of stone, and inner arches of brick, while those in the E side have straight-sided arched heads. The top of this structure, which is enclosed by a low parapet, is reached by a ramp from higher ground on the N. Against the E wall there is built a long rectangular shed, the E gable-wall of which contains a door from which a small boat could be loaded at high tide. The face of the limestone cliff about 80 m W of this site shows traces of extensive quarrying.

RCAHMS 1975, visited June 1970.