Southwick, The Old Limekilns

The Old Limekilns, on Ballast Hill (HER ref. 2760) are marked as ‘Old’ on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey plan so were probably out of use by 1855. Lime had been made at the riverside since the 18th century, with Magnesian limestone hewn from nearby quarries and carried to the kilns on wagonways. Coal was brought by boat along the river and hauled up the bank to the mouths of the kilns. The last kilns worked here until the turn of the 20th century and their remains survived thereafter.