Monument record MLI127877 - Lime kilns, Church Hill, Washingborough

Summary

Two lime kilns on land at Church Hill, Washingborough

Type and Period (1)

  • (Post Medieval - 1540 AD? to 1900 AD?)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Full Description

The remains of two probably post-Medieval lime kilns on land to the east of Church Hill, Washingborough. The western kiln, partially exposed by trial trenching in 2018, was found to be at least 5m in diameter and more than 1m deep. No surviving stone structure was discovered during its excavation, though significant lime residue and heat affected stones were noted within the body of the kiln. Subsequent archaeological excavation in 2019 Though no dating evidence was recovered, the construction is typical of a pre-industrial temporary 'clamp kiln'. Subsequent archaeological excavation in 2019 revealed it to be an unusually large 'keyhole'-shaped flare kiln, measuring 5.15m in diameter and 1.4m deep. A second, smaller kiln was encountered during the excavation, approximately 85m further east. Sub-rectangular in shape, it measured 7.2m long, 2.55m wide and 0.98m deep. It contained a wall of roughly hewn limestone blocks, bonded with poorly preserved mortar, cut into the northwest edge of the lime kiln. This probably formed part of a structure to keep the fuel separate from the lime during the burning process. No dating evidence was recovered from within the second kiln, but an undiagnostic fragment of clay pipe and a 19th-20th century tile fragment was recovered from a sealing deposit. {1}{2}{3}{4} It is possible that these kilns were temporary structures built to provide lime for the construction of the nearby 'manor' farmhouse (MLI81026) in the late 18th or 19th century.

Sources/Archives (4)

  •  Report: University of Leicester Archaeological Services. 2018. An Archaeological Evaluation on Land at Church Hill, Washingborough. -.
  •  Archive: University of Leicester Archaeological Services. 2018. An Archaeological Evaluation on Land at Church Hill, Washingborough. LCNCC: 2018.96.
  •  Report: Allen Archaeology Ltd. 2019. Archaeological Excavation Report: Church Hill, Washingborough. AAL Site Code: WACH 19.
  •  Archive: Allen Archaeology Ltd. 2019. Archaeological Excavation Report: Church Hill, Washingborough. LCNCC: 2019.202.

Map

Location

Grid reference Centred TF 0192 7034 (107m by 50m) (2 map features)
Civil Parish WASHINGBOROUGH, NORTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (2)

External Links (0)

Record last edited

Nov 21 2025 1:43PM

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