Lime Kilns History, Uses, Locations and Ruins

Lime kilns were first used to make lime mortar, but were later used to produce quicklime, mainly for agricultural use in reducing acidity and improving plant growth. They were used on farms or industrially as at Gateside, Blacksyke and Nettlehirst in Ayrshire. The main features of a kiln are the kiln bowl, draw hole and the slope leading up to charge the bowl with coal and limestone. Quicklime or Calcium oxide was used on the fields howver it had to e carefully stored away from water as it would heat up and explode otherwise as the chemical reaction leading to slaked lime production is highly exothermic. Lime kilns have been replaced by modern industrial production techniques and although as substantial structures many are still in existence they are often destroyed by housing and road developments.