Lime Kilns, Adjacent to 8 Springvale Road, Ballywalter BT22 2PE

A pair of rubblestone-built lime kilns located immediately south of Ballywalter village, on the edge of the beach and accessed from Springvale Road. These 'draw' type kilns were designed for the continuous firing and production of quicklime, intended for both building mortar and agricultural use.

The kilns are situated in a public park overlooking the beach, positioned at the north-eastern corner of Ballywalter Park and opposite Ballywalter Park East Gate Lodge. The charging platform sits on higher ground at road level, accessed from the north-west. The main front elevation with symmetrical draw arches faces south-east at a lower level, aligned with the public footpath at the rear of Ballywalter Beach.

Construction and materials consist of rubblestone with brick detailing. The draw arches on the south-east elevation feature heads and vaulting that are two bricks deep, with inner draw arches over the apertures measuring one and a half bricks deep, finished with brick walling above. The joints to the rubblestone are galleted on all three visible elevations, though galletting is less evident below the arch springing line on the south-east elevation. The draw apertures have been infilled with sand-cement render finish for public safety.

The kilns are structurally intact and remarkably free from alteration beyond the blocking of apertures. A structure matching the size and location of the present kilns appears on the Ordnance Survey map of 1858 and is specifically marked as 'L.Ks' on the map of 1920-21. They were probably constructed to supply mortar for the creation of Ballywalter Park house and estate buildings, and may be dated to approximately 1846-51. Given their position, raw lime was likely brought in by boat, possibly from south County Antrim or County Louth.

Since the date of survey, a metal handrail has been added to the top of the kilns and information boards have been affixed to the rendered back walls within the arches.