West Set of Kilns

The West Set of Kilns is a set of six large limekilns built against a north-facing quarry face. Their origins are unclear, but they are linked to the exploitation of the Black Rock Quarry, which was facilitated by the arrival of the Pembroke and Tenby railway in 1863. While there is a tradition connecting the kilns to the architect John Nash, it is more likely that a different John Nash, a colliery blacksmith living in Saundersfoot in the 19th century, was involved.

The kilns are constructed from hammer-dressed limestone and feature a slight batter to the buttressed walls enclosing the kilns and the covered passage. The passage, which once housed a railway line, has steep entrance arches at both the east and west ends, along with five lower segmental arches in the long north wall and four semi-circular windows or ventilators. Inside, the kilns have a steeply vaulted design. Each kiln includes drawing holes on the east and west sides, opening into access vaults that are divided by stone piers, creating a row of twelve steeply pointed vaults. Access arches through the intervening piers align with the drawing holes, and there are chutes from each kiln that allowed for the direct loading of lime into wagons.

The West Set of Kilns is listed as Grade II* and is recognized as an impressive and well-preserved example of limekilns from the railway era, forming part of a group with the other kilns at Kiln Park.