Robin Longbottom
Oakworth
Saturday, May 4, 2013 11:08 |
Lime Kilns in Sutton
Has anyone any information on lime kilns in Sutton? I believe I can just make out the outline of one that stood at Valley Farm (Google Earth). Burning lime for both mortar and to spread on the land provided extra income for many farms, particularly as there appears to have been an abundance of limestone boulders well into the 18th century. I can recall two large limestone boulders being turned up when the Manor Way estate was built. The last lime produced in Sutton was probably from limestones dragged from Holme Beck. |
Terry Longbottom
Valley
Saturday, May 4, 2013 19:41 |
I can understand you rifeling through sir johns trousers to get at the loose change but lime kilns at the valley I think I would know about that.Millstngriit up ere lad. |
Robin Longbottom
Oakworth
Saturday, May 4, 2013 20:50 |
Eratic boulders Terry! Limestone ones carried down from the Dales by glaciation, hundreds of them. They were broken up and burnt in lime kilns and then slaked for use as mortar or to spread on the land. There was one at Valley and one at Gill Top, see Tithe Map, and one at Bent Farm and no doubt others. Deed of 30 March 1721 Peter Barrett yeoman and Roger Coates re: "the Becks and waste grounds and limestone beds in Sutton in possession of Peter Barrett and Lime Kilns and rights of common pasture and turbury liberties" (ref. T/545/728 West Riding Deeds Registry). Also will of Thomas Driver of Stubbing Hill 27 December 1755: "messuage called Barrett House or Whinney House and croft occupied by William Clough with liberty to gather limestone in Brook called Holm Beck" (Bent Farm) (ref. AN/213/295 WRDR). You owe me a pint! |
Paul Longbottom
Sutton
Saturday, May 4, 2013 20:50 |
Strange as it sounds, limestone was also available on certain parts of the moor. A gift from the last ice age I believe. |
Terry Longbottom
Valley
Saturday, May 4, 2013 22:20 |
any more longbottoms want to contribute to this one, or anyone ells, Bent Farm is 500ft lower than Valley Farm and the lime is lighter than the limestone, come and have a look at the analysis of the water it will eat though copper in no time |
Robin Longbottom
Oakworth
Sunday, May 5, 2013 06:44 |
I think the Longbottoms have a monopoly on this one. Just a bit more information on Valley. A deed dated 30 November 1776 refers to the kiln and records that at this time Valley was a barn owned by Robert Clough the Elder who lived at Knowle Top, Sutton. His son Robert Clough lived at Longhouse and his other son, Joshua, resided with him at Knowle. Cloughs still owned Valley in 1840 by which time another Robert Clough was living in a house there (ref: B2/629/823 WRDR).
Incidentally it was not only limestone boulders that have been removed from the upland landscape but also grit stone ones, an old Suttoner told J.H. Dixon in the 1870's, "there were some mair stanes, but they were brokken up for waaing" (walling). These appear to have included the Buckstone, Hangingstone, Rocking stone and, curiously named, Navaxstone.
As for spreading lime on the land, something to do with reducing the acidity, I believe. Tony Ingham will know more about this. |
Terry Longbottom
Valley
Sunday, May 5, 2013 12:45 |
High Robin, Sorry for winding you up one of the fields has always been known as the kiln field but I have never discovered the actual site of the kiln.it was worth the price of a pint |
Robin Longbottom
Oakworth
Monday, May 6, 2013 07:27 |
No worries Terry, I'll look forward to the pint. The problem is that, like flocks of spoonbills at Kildwick Ings, once things have passed from living memorary there lost, or almost.
Anyone wishing to see a fairly large glacial, limestone boulder can do so on Google Maps/Earth by keying in 'Broadhead Lane, Oakworth'. It stands on the roadside at the second gate down from the junction with Whitehill Road and was unearthed several years ago when a stable block was built. The two unearthed at Manor Way in the mid 1960's were slightly smaller and smoother with glacial striations.
With regard to kilns, another site has turned up near New Hall Farm, Malsis at the side of the Holme Beck. I am also informed that bits of limestone have been found on the moors from time to time, marking the site where boulders were broken up. |
Joan M. Tindale
Cowling
Monday, May 6, 2013 20:31 |
Just to break the Longbottom monotony - got an old list of lime kilns around Cowling, but no idea where a few of them are - if anyone wants a copy pls. get in touch. |
Andrew Monkhouse
Hanoi, Vietnam
Tuesday, May 7, 2013 04:07 |
Hi Joan, monopoly or monotony – hopefully not the latter! I find it quite incredible how these guys dig up this type of local historical information. It’s all good stuff, as Robin says “once things have passed from living memory there lost, or almost”. How true. |
Paul Wilkinson
webmaster
Tuesday, May 7, 2013 20:09 |
Joan Tindale sent me the following...
LIME KILNS – from Doris J. Brigg
Lime Kilns line all the streams from Glusburn to Cowling and up to the moors, Ghyll Bottom, Scar Beck, Ickornshaw Beck, etc.
The following have been traced by the late Mr. Jonas Bradley of Stanbury.
1. Tommy Stows kiln.
2. Below Lane Ends Bridge (in road leading to Cross Gate/Yates?)
3. Near old stables, Carr Head (now Listed Bldg.2008)
4. Sugdens Bottoms above stepping stones.
5. Near Fishers Bridge leading to Cross Gates.
6. Ridge Mill Bridge (dark hoil)?
7. In Dark Hoil?, Cowling
8. Royd far ends.
9. White Gate wood bottom.
10. Far end of Royd.
11. Scar beck.
12. Near scar bottom.
13. Scar bottom.
14. Crow Wood bottom.
15. Fellows Lunds near Cock Hall.
16. Shepherds Green.
17. Several kilns all the way up to Will Emmotts Wood and forward up to
Cowlaughton, and many there.
|
Joan M. Tindale
Cowling
Friday, May 10, 2013 20:49 |
Can only guess at a few of the above, but old maps might show them.
Any of you who are good walkers might be able to track them down, if so pls. make out new list giving details. Jonas Bradley born Baywood/Baildon in Cowling on corner of crag road under Cowling Pinnacle - introduced nature study into school curriculum. |
