Description and History of Site:-
Does not appear to be listed.

Information panel:

Lime kilns

A lime kiln is effectively a large oven used to produce quicklime by the calcination of limestone. Limestone was broken up into small pieces, placed in the kiln, then heated by wood or coal fires until it reached temperatures of approximately 900°C. The chemical reaction of this heating process then created 'powdered' quicklime.

Where would people get limestone from?

Limestone is all around us. The cliffs behind these lime kilns are magnesian limestone and if you were to dig a hole under where you are standing now you would come across limestone about two metres down and this limestone strata would go down another 70 metres. Therefore limestone was readily available in this area and wherever limestone and fuel were available at historic building sites you may discover lime kilns.

What was quicklime used for?

The reason for making quicklime at the north dock was to mix it with water to produce slaked lime. This could then be used as mortar, render, putty and any other cement-like bonding material. Slaked lime was also very popular as a limewash for walls and for agriculture. Farmers and gardeners still use quicklime and slaked lime to help increase the fertility of the soil, especially for growing green crops such as cabbages and cauliflowers.

Why was it important that the north dock had five lime kilns and what was their main purpose?

There were actually 8 lime kilns at the north dock, another 3 lime kilns used to stand where the disabled parking bays are situated to the opposite side of the cliff to where you are now, those were demolished in the 1960s.

It was very important to establish lime kilns at the north dock right from the very beginning of the dock being built in 1828. Lime mortar was used to set the large sandstone blocks for all main parts of the construction; the dock basin, inner wave screen and other original walls. It was important enough to have lime kilns on site that they were indicated on the very first dock construction plans in 1820.

Help us improve this entry

The compilers welcome corrections or additional information on all sites.
Any information provided will be verified before appearing on the web site.

Email comments

Key Words :- limekilns

Viewing the Site :- Area open to the public

Address :- George Elmy Lifeboat Way, Seaham, Durham, SR7 7JT
Grid Ref :- NZ 43296 49526
Co-ordinates :- Lat 54.838691 , Long -1.327409
Local Authority :- Durham County Council
Pre 1974 County :- County Durham
Site Status :- Site extant - Protected status unknown
Site Condition :- Site disused - but otherwise substantially intact
Site Dates :- c 1800 -
Record Date :- 3 September 2022

Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © John Suter