Description and History of Site:-
A large limestone quarry with a single elongated working face c. 30m high; several large discard mounds, including one parallel to the river; several industrial buildings and structures in varying states of decay across the site; remains of a long tramway bed from quarry to kiln; substantial remains of a Hoffmann kiln, built in 1868 with 14 firing chambers but extended in 1893 to 18 chambers after an external rail link from Thornton in Lonsdale station was installed in 1892; engine shed from the 1890s now converted to private residential use has rail line intact under the floorboards; site office-weighhouse intact and in use as a Scout storeroom. Two partners, Michael Wilson and John Clark leased two existing small quarries and two traditional-style kilns in 1866 trading as Clark and Wilson. In 1868 they formed a new company called Clark, Wilson & Co. taking out a patent licence to build the Hoffmann kiln. They demolished the two existing kilns and renamed the Mealbank Limekilns site as the Ingleborough Patent Lime Works. Unfavourable trading conditions in the early 1900s, and the success and long-term viability of the company's operation at the Craven Limeworks at Langcliffe led to the kiln being shut down in 1909-10, and the quarry abandoned soon after.

Further Reading and References:-
Johnson, D. Limestone industries of the Yorkshire Dales. Amberley, 2010, pp. 99-111.
http://www.brocross.com/industrial%20history/yorkshire%20limekilns/Meal%20Bank/meal%20bank.htm

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Key Words :- large disused limestone quarry with hoffmann kiln

Viewing the Site :- visible from a right of way on the Storrs Common side of the river. Accessible with permission from Craven District Councilil

Address :- Oddies Lane, Ingleton, North Yorkshire, LA6 3HG
Grid Ref :- SD 69707 73513
Co-ordinates :- Lat 54.156530 , Long -2.465366
Local Authority :- Craven District Council
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - West Riding
Site Status :- Scheduled Ancient Monument SAM
Historic England List No - 1020889,
Site Condition :- Site disused - but otherwise substantially intact
Site Dates :- pre-1864 - 1909-10
Record Date :- 23 February 2016

Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © David Johnson