Temporary fencing put up around Hoffman Kiln at Llanymynech
Inside the Hoffman Kiln
Temporary fencing has been put up around the Hoffman Kiln at Llanymynech, ahead of possible repair work being carried out.
One of only three remaining Hoffman Kilns in the country it was used in the early years of the 20th century for the continual ‘burning’ of lime and is now a popular visitor attraction.
Following a routine inspection of the kiln some changes with the structure were noticed. Shropshire Council brought in a structural engineer who specialises in historic buildings and they have advised that, as a safety precaution, the area should be fenced off whist further investigations are carried out.
James Owen, Cabinet member for culture and leisure said:
“We know that fencing off the Kiln will come as a disappointment to many people but it’s something that we must do for safety reasons, and on specialist advice – and I want to thank people for their patience and understanding
“Once the fencing is in place Shropshire Council will consult Historic England about the repairs, with a number of possible options available, from temporary to permanent repairs.
“We’ll provide further updates once these discussions have taken place.”
The Hoffman Kiln was built in 1899 and worked until 1914. The 42.5 metre chimney for the kiln dominates the landscape but the cavernous structure of the kiln is the real attraction to this site being fully accessible to visitors. Men worked inside this structure, tolerating noise, dust and heat as they carried out their work..
Llanymynech is a nationally significant industrial heritage area. This particular site forms part of the ‘Limeworks’ landscape which is a landscape shaped by man through the extraction of limestone from the surrounding area.
