Full Report for Listed Buildings
The list description is not intended to be a complete inventory of what is listed: it is principally intended to aid identification. By law, the definition of a listed building includes the entire building (i) and any structure or object that is fixed to the said building and ancillary to it and (ii) any other structure or object that forms part of the land and has done so since before 1 July 1948, and was within the curtilage of the building, and ancillary to it, on the date on which said building was first included in the list, or on 1 January 1969, whichever was later.
Summary Description
Reference Number
11172
Building Number
Grade
II
Status
Designated
Date of Designation
09/12/1991
Date of Amendment
27/08/1999
Name of Property
Bank of Lime Kilns at Pentre Gwenlais Stone Quarry, Pentre Gwenlais Road (NE side)
Address
Location
Unitary Authority
Carmarthenshire
Community
Llandybie
Town
Ammanford
Locality
Pentre Gwenlais
Easting
260831
Northing
216345
Street Side
Location
Built into a steep bank near SE end of Pentre Gwenlais Limestone Quarry which lies to N of Pentre-Gwenlais village, approximately 1km W of A483.
Description
Broad Class
Industrial
Period
History
Dated 1903, and contemporary with a major quarry development at the south east of Carmel Woods. This area already had a tradition of limeworks: Cil-yr-ychen Quarry, to the east, retains a substantial bank of limekilns from c1870.
The design suggests that is was intended as a bank of 5 kilns - see positioning of date, lack of battering at the left end and springing for a further arch.
An engraving of c1905 and the 2nd edition OS map surveyed in 1905 shows the structure as it is today with three kilns. Railways brought the limestone and coal in at the top and took the lime away at the bottom. The lines at top encircled each kiln. Many associated industrial buildings, including an engine shed, have disappeared from the area to the south and west of the kilns.
Pentre-Gwenlais and Cil-yr-ychen quarries merged in 1906 to form Lime Firms Ltd. The firm was purchased by Sir Alfred McAlpine and Son Ltd in 1975, after discontinuance of lime burning, and is now owned by Tarmac Plc.
Exterior
Vast masonry bank of limekilns strongly battered at front and right end, built in randomly coursed rubble with red brick semicircular arches to the working areas. Prominently dated 1903 in brick over the left-hand of the three arches. Within each working area is a pair of deeply recessed and camber-headed working-holes. Formerly there were hoppers to the front through which the lime was drawn straight down into railway waggons; the upper parts of the chutes remain in situ. This mechanised loading of the quicklime accounts for the immense height of the structure. Across the front of the working areas is a communicating walkway with square-headed tunnels and stone lintels through the masonry piers. The kilns were charged from the platform at the top which has remains of a stone parapet. Reinforcement to left end.
Interior
Tall cylindrical kilns thickly lined with vitrified brick.
Reason for designation
A well-preserved early C20 limekilns complex exhibiting unusual layout; design features associated with an exceptionally high level of mechanisation.
Cadw : Full Report for Listed Buildings [ Records 1 of 1 ]
Export