Beehive Lime Kiln

The Beehive Lime Kiln is a flare-kiln for lime burning, built in 1908. It is constructed of brick and stands about 6 metres tall, featuring a bottle or bee-hive shape. This kiln is the last remaining one of five similar kilns, as the others have been demolished. The dome of the kiln rises from a brick base and includes a large semi-circular arch on the northwest side, which contains a loading door. There are remains of another round arch on the southwest side, a blocked doorway on the northeast side, and three stoking holes on the southeast side.

Inside, the kiln has iron fire-grates and three internal flues in the floor. The kiln was part of Chinnor Lime Works, established by W.E. Benton in 1908 at the foot of the Chiltern escarpment for producing lump lime for agriculture and construction. In 1919, a small cement plant was developed nearby, alongside the five flare-kilns, which produced up to 240 tons of lime per week until production ceased in 1938.