Each year we organise a Heritage Open Day at the Llanymynech Limeworks.
Normally this would include things such as Nature Walks, Guided Tours, Lime Slaking Demonstrations and Films in the Kiln. This year is different due to the COVID19 Virus and in conjunction with Heritage Open Days we have created this post to showcase
The Llanymynech Heritage Area
VIDEOS
A Walk Around The Heritage Area
In the video below we show you around the Heritage Area, starting at the car park beside the A483, walking past the Stables Block and the Tally House with the metal sculpture of the “Tally Man” and behind the Tally House we see the metal sculpture “Pushing the Carts”. Then on through the woods and into the open fields where we also see the Montgomery Canal. We then look around the Hoffmann Kiln and our famous 200ft chimney with the metal sculptures of “The Stoker” and “Break Time”. Then a look at the Draw Kilns, before finally walking along our COVID Snake.
A Walk Up To the Welsh and English Quarries
Both the Welsh and English Quarries are Nature Reserves. The Welsh side is managed by the Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust and the English side by the Shropshire Wildlife Trust.
In spring and summer you can see some of our rarest orchids and the area is home to over 300 plant species.
The cliffs provide a perch for jackdaws, sparrow hawks, buzzards and even peregrine falcons and the grass and woodland attract plenty of insects and butterflies.
The next video shows a walk from the Heritage Area through the tunnel under the A483, across the open field to the Welsh incline (Powys) and up to the Welsh Brake House. Turning left and onwards to the Border View Point to see the magnificent views across the valley. Then back to the border gate and into England (Shropshire), where we walk past the Welsh/English tunnel and on to the metal sculptures of the “Rock Men” and view the limestone quarry in all its glory. Continuing along the path we turn back along the side of the hill where we find sets of Draw Kilns from the 17th century. A short walk back to the English Brake House and we pass the metal sculpture of the “Brake Man” and continue back down to the tunnel.
The Llanymynech Wharf and Visitor Centre
The narrow boat used by the Llanymynech Wharf Visitor Centre is named after George Watson Buck (1789 – 1854) an engineer who was engaged in various capacities on many works, until the year 1818, when he settled at Welsh Pool. He became the Engineer of the Montgomeryshire Canal, a position he held for nearly fourteen years, introducing considerable improvements in the works of the canal and its general management.
Our next video looks at the Llanymynech Wharf and Visitor Centre. We learn about the history of the Visitor Centre and then take a trip along the canal in our narrow boat, the George Watson Buck.
A Lime Slaking Demonstration
Lime Slaking is the process of adding water to quick lime, turning the traditional building material lime from calcium oxide (burnt lime or quicklime) into calcium hydroxide, (slaked lime or hydrated lime).
Traditionally it was used to add to the land to “sweeten” the acidic soil, as a mortar when building or as a lime wash.
It also has many other uses which you may not be aware of, such as purifying sugar, softening water, treating waste water and in the manufacture of medicines, paper and insecticides and the list goes on.
This next video is presented by Glyn Gaskill one of the LLIMEYS volunteers. Please don’t try this yourself unless you are properly trained and have the correct safety equipment.
