Waterfall Bridge Limekiln

Waterfall Bridge Limekiln is an early 19th-century lime kiln located at Waterfalls Road in Great Strickland. The kiln features a tapered rectangular body built against a quarry bank, made of irregularly coursed stone rubble with quoined corners. It has a wide segmental arch at the front, which provides access to a deep vaulted passage constructed from well-finished coursed masonry. This passage leads to two square openings, known as draw holes or 'eyes', at the base of the kiln, where burnt lime was extracted. The top of the kiln is now overgrown and consists of a flat masonry platform surrounding the kiln mouth, where broken limestone and fuel were loaded.

Historically, the kiln operated at the Waterfalls Bridge Quarry and was one of eight lime kilns in the parish of Great Strickland, with this being one of only two that still exist and the most complete example. It is a draw kiln, designed for continuous operation, providing burnt lime for agricultural use, plasters, mortars, and lime wash. The demand for agricultural lime surged in the early 19th century, particularly after the Napoleonic War, when over two million acres of land were converted to agricultural use. This kiln is a substantial and well-preserved example of its kind, with a well-finished kiln tower and a deep vaulted access chamber for extracting burnt lime, which was essential for soil improvement and served as a primary ingredient in building mortars until the advent of Portland cement.