Lime kilns, Greenland Road, Larne, Co Antrim

Lime Kilns, Greenland Road, Larne

This is a large stone lime kiln of distinctive proportions and plan form, standing on an elevated site above the town with views towards the Lough. Built in the mid-to-late 19th century (1860-1879), it is of local interest as an example of a building type that was once characteristic of this area. The kiln appears on the 1903 Ordnance Survey map and was constructed for the burning of limestone to reduce it to powder for various uses. It stands close to the town and is easily accessible to public view.

The structure is built on a rectangular plan with battered front and side walls, constructed largely of snecked white limestone. The main front faces east and contains three semi-circular kiln openings.

The left kiln opening has an outer arch of purple brick with a barrel-vaulted purple brick recess behind; the sides have splayed limestone reveals and a purple brick spandrel panel. Four recessed segmental arches in purple brick sit over the opening with a rusted iron beam spanning the innermost arch. The opening hole is overgrown and difficult to see. The central kiln is similar in form but its outer arch is of red brick; the front area has splayed white limestone reveals with purple brick beyond, and a purple brick spandrel panel. Three recessed segmental arches in purple brick with rusted iron girders span the innermost opening, which has yellow firebrick jambs and reveals. The opening hole is filled with debris. The right kiln opening has an outer arch of dressed blackstone voussoirs; the vault and spandrel are also of blackstone. The reveals are straight rather than splayed. Three recessed arches in blackstone with a rusted iron girder span the innermost opening, now filled with debris and overgrown. The walling around and above the right kiln is of snecked blackstone surmounted by courses of white limestone.

Across the base of the structure runs a projecting stone course. The top is finished with a curved brick cornice and brick blocking course, though portions are missing. To the right of the front elevation, limestone walling is built up against the north side to intermediate height with brick quoins at the main structure extremity above. Remains of rusted iron brackets are attached to the front wall at height. One brick in the surmounting courses bears an impressed name, now illegible.

The south elevation is a blank wall of white limestone, surmounted by similar brick courses, partly missing. The west or rear face is vertical rather than battered, and is built into the hillside. The north elevation has brick quoins to the left above a limestone rubble wall, with overgrown sloping ground rising to the rear.

The top surface of the kilns contains three circular charging holes: one to the north is much overgrown; one at the centre is partly overgrown; one to the south is filled almost to the top and roughly grassed over, though the inner brickwork face is revealed for several courses.

The structure stands on an elevated site above the main road, flanked on each side by rough ground with undulating terrain running to the rear towards an overgrown quarry. The building is recorded as derelict and is of industrial archaeological interest.