possible lime kiln

[swampsinger]

I found this in the bush. I believe this is a lime kiln. I understand that these were used to make quick lime, which is an important ingredient for setting mortar for building. I suppose in the old times you could get good money for quick lime in the village or town.

lime kiln.jpg

[Marker]

There are a few of those in Halton and Hamilton areas, but appear smaller and much older.

[Tigboy 304]

I found this in the bush. I believe this is a lime kiln. I understand that these were used to make quick lime, which is an important ingredient for setting mortar for building. I suppose in the old times you could get good money for quick lime in the village or town.

lime kiln.jpg

Yes that is what it is. Back in the day a few chunks of unslacked lime in a glass pop bottle tossed in a lake was a easy way to get a feed of fish.

[Deer Hunter]

Cool. But not sure what a lime kiln is? My neighbour had one that was smaller but never really knew what it was.

[dean.f]

That's such a neat find! I love finding remnants from industry way out where you'd never expect them. I've found a few remnants from logging operations but never anything like that!

[swampsinger]

I've done some google research. It looks like from 1800 thru 1850 there was a fair amount of building going on in the area of the kiln. Merrickville, Andrewsville, and Burritts Rapids all had woolen mills, rideau canal infrastructure, chruches etc. I have 2 theories. A builder with contracts in the area might have sent a crew there to make required materials. My sentimental pick is that kiln was made by a local family to supplement their yearly income. That local area is not grade a farm land. I also found out that Lanark County was a known area for lime production. Lime was produced in the area from the early 1800's right thru till the 1940's.

[swampsinger]

Cool. But not sure what a lime kiln is? My neighbour had one that was smaller but never really knew what it was.

My understanding is your basically burning rocks [limestone] to render them into quick lime.

[Tigboy 304]

My understanding is your basically burning rocks [limestone] to render them into quick lime.

Correct they give off a blue flame when done Correctly from what I've been told . Takes about 24hrs from start to finish to complete the process.

[gbk]

Bit of interesting fact(may be known to many of you here too-but I never seen or heard about it here,in Canada)
Up until late 1990-ish(maybe even later,perhaps even nowadays........i just do not know,since i am here since the mid 90-is)we used kiln lime to great extent.
Especially small scale building.

We would buy the kiln "burnt lime"(not sure the proper terminology)-the lime,which was processed in a kiln.
The product was like white-yellowish rocks,and gravel.

We would buy by "ton",delivered to the construction site.
Then-we would make a 6x12x2 wooden tub,with a shute on one end.There we would dig a big square hole in the grounds(maybe 6x12x4).
We would then (at the start of the day)"render"lime into "lime butter"(not sure the term yet again)

Fill the tub with water,and slowly and carefully add the kilned lime rocks and lime gravel.
There was immediatete chemical reaction-smoke,loud popping,splashing some,and major heat.
One -two guys would constantly mix the slush with long handled rakes.
When assumed all hard stuff is "rendered"= rocks would melt away,the reaction would slow,the smoke would diminish-we would open the sluice,and let all the lime drain into the pit.
Then start over and over,until all lime was processed.
By the end of the day, we would have the pit filled,area cleaned .
Dangerous dangerous job-no one wanted to have hot lime splashed on him........

We guarded the pit for perhaps a day(to prevent someone falling into the slowly cooling slush)
The lime would need some time to "settle"-or to work itself together.Water would need to be added ,to always cover the surface,preventing cracking and drying out.

Aftre some time(do no rememebr by now-but few weeks)we would get the "BEST"there is lime,for masonry.Like butter.........

We used this to plaster brick,concrete or cinder block walls and ceilings.Inside and outside(different mixture for one or the other)
Using mixture of Portland Cement-Rendered lime-water-sand.

Same stuff was used for whitewashing-but by the time i was involved,white washing was applied less and less.

Even back then,we had lime powder,available in Lumber yards,in 30 kg bags.We called it dehydrated lime.
We would use it for "coarse"jobs,like laying bricks and blocks.Some times even for plastering-mostly industrial scale operations(but the quality of "home made"stuff was unmatchable).

[Deer Hunter]

My understanding is your basically burning rocks [limestone] to render them into quick lime.

Thanks