Listed Building

The only legal part of the listing under the Planning (Listing Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 is the address/name of site. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing – see 'About Listed Buildings' below for more information. The further details below the 'Address/Name of Site' are provided for information purposes only.

Address/Name of Site

CHARLESTOWN, HARBOUR ROAD, LIMEKILNSLB3741

Status: Removed

Documents

There are no additional online documents for this record.

Summary

Category
A
Group Category Details
100000019 - see notes
Date Added
31/12/1971
Date Removed:
21/06/2017
Local Authority
Fife
Planning Authority
Fife
Parish
Dunfermline
NGR
NT 06422 83561
Coordinates
306422, 683561

Removal Reason

This building is dual designated, it will be de-listed as part of the Dual Designation 2 project but will remain scheduled.

Description

1750-1760. Long range of 14 kilns, inter-connected by rear passage, approximately 30 foot high. Principal elevation faces S towards harbour; rear built into bank. Coursed, dressed sandstone. Kilns numbered 1 from E to 14 at W. Tall (approximately 30 foot) sloping wall runs northwards at far right; concave area to left; raggles of pitched buildings (now gone); tall red brick flue with fireplace at base extends height of wall. Openings to kilns to left. Row of 10 arches to left. First 3 arches set back due to missing stone facing. Large square opening above and between 2nd and 3rd arch. Timber boarded doors cover first 3 arches. Stone facing missing to left of 9th arch. Fireplace in arch to left of 10th arch. Tall access archway to left of Kiln 11. Kiln 12 advanced and set at angle to left; 2 arches in right return. Low arch with fireplace to right of Kiln 12; tall access arch to left. Advanced Kiln 13 to left; 2 small arches in right return. Low arch with fireplace set in to left; tall access archway to left; opening above to right. Kiln 14 to far left; low archway to right; flat segmental arch to far left; opening above. Slope to left gives access to left return of Kiln 14.

Statement of Special Interest

SCHEDULED MONUMENT. A-Group with 1-90 Charlestown Village, exluding 36-37 and 52-55 Charlestown Village; Charlestown, Bridge of Former Elgin Railway; Charlestown, Camsie House; Charlestown Harbour; Charlestown Village, K6 Telephone Kiosk; Charlestown Village, The Queen's Hall; Charlestown, 8, 10, 14, The Sutlery, 16, 18 Rocks Road; Charlestown, 12 Rocks Road, The Old School House; Charlestown, Rocks Road, Former Estate Workshop and Charlestown, Rocks Road, Old School. Limestone had been dug and burnt in kilns at Limekilns before Charles, 5th Earl of Elgin organised the process. Lime played an important part in Scotland's economy and was used in agriculture, building and industrial applications such as glass production. Coal and limestone were found on the Elgin estate which the Earl exploited to create a large industry which also involved the establishment of an iron foundry, brick works, the export of coal and coke as well as lime, a village to house the workers and the necessary transport for the materials which included wagonways and the harbour. Initially 6 kilns were built (at the E end of the bank) which later increased to 14 as Charlestown became the largest producer of lime in Europe and supplied a third of Scotland's total production. It was one of the first large-scale industrial enterprises in Scotland. The limestone was transported by horse drawn carts and later by wagons to the kilnhead. Due to the position of the kilns built into the bank, the need to hoist coal up to the kilnhead was eliminated and the proximity of the kilns to the harbour enabled the men to shovel the lime directly onto the boats for exportation. Associated structures such as the slaking house and engineer's shed were demolished in 1956 when the works closed. The kilns operated for over 200 years and are now redundant. The scale of the limekilns which remain serve as a reminder of the industry which created Charlestown and its importance is enhanced by the survival of the associated village, harbour, quarries and rail tracks.

References

Bibliography

J Ainslie, COUNTY OF FIFE, 1775 (Charlestown is depicted); J Hume, THE INDUSTRIAL ARCHAEOLOGY OF SCOTLAND, Vol 1, 1976, p132; N Fotheringham, CHARLESTOWN, 1997; NMRS Archive, 2000.

About Listed Buildings

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Listing is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

We list buildings which are found to be of special architectural or historic interest using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Listed building records provide an indication of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building which has been identified by its statutory address. The description and additional information provided are supplementary and have no legal weight.

These records are not definitive historical accounts or a complete description of the building(s). If part of a building is not described it does not mean it is not listed. The format of the listed building record has changed over time. Earlier records may be brief and some information will not have been recorded.

The legal part of the listing is the address/name of site which is known as the statutory address. Other than the name or address of a listed building, further details are provided for information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland does not accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of inaccuracies in the information provided. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing. Even if a number or name is missing from a listing address it will still be listed. Listing covers both the exterior and the interior and any object or structure fixed to the building. Listing also applies to buildings or structures not physically attached but which are part of the curtilage (or land) of the listed building as long as they were erected before 1 July 1948.

While Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating listed buildings, the planning authority is responsible for determining what is covered by the listing, including what is listed through curtilage. However, for listed buildings designated or for listings amended from 1 October 2015, legal exclusions to the listing may apply.

If part of a building is not listed, it will say that it is excluded in the statutory address and in the statement of special interest in the listed building record. The statement will use the word 'excluding' and quote the relevant section of the 1997 Act. Some earlier listed building records may use the word 'excluding', but if the Act is not quoted, the record has not been revised to reflect subsequent legislation.

Listed building consent is required for changes to a listed building which affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The relevant planning authority is the point of contact for applications for listed building consent.

Find out more about listing and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.

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Printed: 29/03/2024 06:11