Early limekiln

Sterndale Moor limekiln is probably late eighteenth century in origin. In the foreground is the typical rectangular shape of a Pye or clamp kiln with a draw hole in the middle of the low bank around the kiln. The small quarry for one of the raw materials is in the background. These clamps were operated intermittently as required to provide lime for local use. It is believed that these kilns were more efficient and less labour intensive than the 'pudding-pie' intermittent kilns and the small running kilns used in the rural areas. They could not, however, match the productivity of the much larger masonry built commercial running kilns.