The burning of lime is, therefore, of great antiquity in the Findon area, and because of the technical ability required it became almost a monopoly of certain families, who, over many generations, jealously guarded the secrets and mysteries of their art.

By the 18th century every farm of any size had its own limekiln, and others were sites on waste and common ground. The lime-burners travelled round the county, and the lime was used on a local, not a commercial basis. 

The average kiln consisted of a central circular chamber in the form of a cask, some 10 feet in depth.  It had an inside lining of brick, of peculiar form and dimensions, and this was reinforced with stone and rubble.

It is said that it took four loads of chalk to fill one kiln, and a man and boy could do this in a day, the cost varying with the distance from the pit.  It then required two men to fire the kiln which needed continuous attention, in order to retain the high temperature for a period of 24 hours.

The first reference I have found to the limekiln at Tolmare Farm is in 1875 but my guess is that there were limeburners in the Findon area long before that.

Continue if you would like to read Findon Farm Photo Album — Albert Short Senior (born 1845)