Historical buildings and the RSPB – there’s more to reserves than meets the eye

Image by Jarrod Sneyd

Over the past few months, I have been lucky enough to assist on a project relating to the Consall Lime Kilns. These are large structures, which are on part of our Churnet Valley land-holding, close to Consall Nature Park. Most people walking along the edge of the adjacent canal, might not appreciate that these are owned by the RSPB. Indeed, many RSPB members would not realise that our reserves can often have lots of historical as well as wildlife interest. My role has been to help prepare a management plan to ensure the kilns continue to be maintained properly in to the future. I have been working with an RSPB archaeologist and specialist consultants to do this.

The great thing about working on this kind of project is that you get the chance to chat to the real enthusiasts. They know so much about these old buildings and the history behind them.

It is often easy to overlook aspects of these monuments but when you speak to those who are ‘in the know’ you start to understand; there are stories buried within the brickwork. While chatting with one of the consultants on a site visit to the Lime Kilns, he pointed out a cross shaped engraving on one of the stones making up the main archway. He explained that this was a maker’s mark, a symbol that was unique to the stonemason that had crafted the stone. This is something, I’m sure many people, like myself, would have completely missed. However, knowing these kinds of details brings your view of the structure down to a more personal level; you begin to wonder about the lives of the people who were actually involved in crafting and working on them.

As part of the project, we have been clearing willow away from the top of the Lime-kiln. This will improve the ability of the consultants to complete their survey work. David Lomas, one of our long-term volunteers, that helped with the clearance, was intrigued enough to do some research on the Kilns. We thought it would be nice to share it on a blog, for those who might like to know a bit more about the industrial past of the reserve:

‘The RSPB Reserve at Coombes Valley has a wealth of industrial heritage as well as its natural beauty. In Coombes Valley there is evidence of a now defunct plateway and charcoal burning activities. Over in the Churnet Valley, adjacent to Chase Wood, there stands an impressive set of four tall Lime Kilns. Back in the early 19^th century[1]^,[2], these were used to burn limestone to make lime for use in agriculture and construction. The limestone was and continues to be used as a flux in iron smelting and, when combined with mudstone, in the manufacture of cement.

The lime kilns at Consall were continuous draw kilns. Their operation was fairly simple; coal and limestone were loaded at the top of the kiln and the coal burnt reducing the limestone to quicklime in the central part of the kiln. The quicklime was removed through a drawhole at the base[3]. 

Originally, in the early 19th century, limestone quarried at Caldon Low was sent four miles (6.4km) down to Froghall Wharf by gravity tramway (the kilns at Froghall are Listed Grade II). After 1802, however, limestone was sent by canal barge to the newly constructed lime kilns at Consall. Here, as at Froghall, it was reduced to lime powder by being roasted in the kilns and slaked by water. Slaking causes a chemical reaction making the lime more maleable. In the early years the slaked lime was sent by horse-drawn wagons along the plateway, a simple railroad, to Longton. After 1850 the lime was sent by rail along the new Churnet Valley Railway. The Consall lime kilns had to be rebuilt in 1820, but continued in production until the 1890s.[4]

Back in 2002, the Leek and Moorlands Historic Buildings Trust on behalf of the RSPB and in partnership with the Staffordshire Moorlands District Council secured National Lottery funding for the restoration of the kilns and to provide interpretation panels for visitors[5].’

The Kilns are of national importance because of their value as evidence of our industrial history. They are classed as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. Any works on them require liason with English Heritage.

The reserve team at Coombes Valley are working to ensure the preservation of these Kilns for the enjoyment and interest of those in the local community. Why not take a trip down to the Churnet Valley and see what hidden secrets you can uncover?