County: Cork Site name: Cappagh West 2
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: E004913
Author: John O’Connor, Rubicon Heritage Services Ltd
Site type: Lime kiln
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 519924m, N 578442m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 51.952297, -9.164954
Excavation by Rubicon Heritage Ltd at Cappagh West 2 was undertaken as part of the N22 Baile Bhuirne–Macroom Road Scheme (Lot 1) Archaeological Consultancy Services Contract. The excavation was carried out on behalf of Cork County Council and funded by Transport Infrastructure Ireland.
recorded the remains of a backfilled lime kiln visible on the 1st edition OS map of 1829-42, which was not visible in the landscape, having been completely backfilled after use
The excavated kiln was built into the southern side of a natural ridge. The semi-circular cut contained the bowl of the kiln, splayed out towards the front where walls created a flue break and entrance. The bowl, located to the northeast, was circular in shape, with steep sides. A deposit of loosely compacted bright pink red sandy clay with evidence of in situ burning, was found within the stones of the kiln. The diameter of the kiln bowl measured 2.74 m externally and 1.8 m internally. It was excavated to a depth of 2.53 m.
The two walls that formed the splayed entrance were constructed of rough flat stones in irregular courses with a mixture of small and large flat stones with smaller stones filling the gaps. The stones were bonded with coarse lime mortar, which was roughly pointed in places. Both walls were faced internally and at the ends. The walls were 1.75 m long and excavated to a height of 0.85 m. The full height of the walls was undetermined due to health and safety restrictions. The remains of a third wall were found to the south. This was roughly built of random courses of various sized field stones with no obvious bonding material. It abutted the western end of the splayed entrance, with its southern face against the natural subsoil. This wall appears to have been a poorly constructed later addition to the kiln and may have served as a wind break of sorts as it partially blocked the splayed entrance. Three slanting flagstones were located at the narrower end of the kiln splayed entrance. The kiln charging bowl was built onto or supported by these slanting flagstones.
A possible metalled surface was found to the southwest of the entrance. This may have functioned as a rough working or standing surface.
A southeast to northwest road, visible on the 1st edition map but no longer visible in the landscape, ran directly to the north and northeast of the excavated kiln. A small section of cobbles was recorded to the northeast of the kiln in three test pits.
Small scale draw and flare kilns essentially look the same and it is all but impossible to differentiate between the two (Johnson 2018, 33). This and the lack of any identifiable quarry in the local area means that the lime kiln at Cappagh West 2 can only be described as a rural ‘field kiln’, due to its small size; likely utilized by the occupants of the adjacent farm buildings visible on the 1st edition 6-inch map.
Despite the lack of lime from the interior of the structure, the lime kiln excavated at Cappagh West 2 is of similar construction to other lime kilns recorded across the country. The kiln was visible on the 1st edition 6-inch map but gone by the time of the 2nd edition 25-inch map. It can be assumed from this to have fallen into disuse by the middle to latter part of the 19th century.
Unit 2, Europa Enterprise Park, Midleton, Co. Cork P25 TV25
