The Hoffman Kiln at Llanymynech

Welcome to the website for the Hoffman Kiln at Llanymynech. These pages provide an introduction to one of the few remaining examples of the Hoffman kiln in the country. Kilns such as these were used for burning lime, a vital ingredient for industrial and agricultural purposes in the nineteenth and early twentieth century. Lime would be extracted from the local countryside, burnt in specially designed kilns, and then transported by canal or train.

There are two other surviving Hoffman kilns, one at Minera, outside Wrexham, and a second at Langcliffe near Settle. However, the Hoffman kiln at Llanymynech is unique in retaining its 140 foot high chimney, which remains a familiar landmark in this beautiful part of the Shropshire/Wales border. It is also surrounded by breath-taking scenery, dominated by the 200 foot high cliffs of Llanymynech rock. The surrounding area, which includes a nature reserve, still provides evidence of a history of quarrying and smelting dating back to Roman times.

Adjacent to the Kiln site is the currently disused Montgomery Canal, with remnants of the wharves from which lime would have been loaded and dispatched. A visit to this site provides a unique insight into a vanished industrial heritage.

These pages have been written by Tony Beardsell Chairman of the Llanymynech Heritage Focus Group. Webdesign by Dr Richard Dover, Head of Humanities at North East Wales Institute (NEWI), Wrexham.