Submitted by Jemima - 26th May 2023
On a recent walk I found some old old tunnel/oven structures on the Roughs just past the last house on Old London Road. An 1871-1890 map labels them as ‘lime kiln’, I wondered if there is any more info on them? Thanks!
Reply posted by Ian Heath - 28th May 2023
I think I can help with this one. I had already heard that there was a kiln of some sort on the Roughs from the lady who lives at Inniskilling (the said last house on Old London Road). The kiln is just behind Inniskilling (incidentally named after the regiment that the then owner commanded when it was posted to the Roughs in the 19th century – he bought and rebuilt the previous 16th house so that he could survey his regiment from the luxury of his house).
So, this afternoon, I went looking for the Limekiln on the Roughs. First I met a dog walker and he confirmed that there is indeed the remains of a kiln, and also a WW2 lookout on a hillock nearby. He told me where to look but I’m afraid I couldn’t find either. It was in an area with 5 foot high nettles and I spent nearly 2 hours tramping through them and scrambling on steep crumbly slopes but nae luck. I’ll return and look for a dog walker to guide me this week. Maybe Jemima could help me.
The map she refers to is available at https://maps.nls.uk/view/102343657 and surveyed in 1872.