Lime Kiln conservation – Phase 2, Hobbs Nature Reserve Trust, Longhope, Glos

This project will deliver Phase 2 of the conservation of the lime kiln, namely the chamber, at Hobbs Nature Reserve, and erect an interpretation board.

Conservation of the lime kiln started in March 2025 and was funded with a ECT grant. During the work an underground chamber was discovered. Excavations that removed the soil and stone revealed the place where the processed lime was removed by the kiln workers. It is essential to undertake conservation of this chamber and the external stonework on the right-hand side of the entrance.

Revealing the chamber has added a significant extra dimension to the history and understanding of the working of the kiln and it is proposed to erect an interpretation board to set the kiln in the context of the industrial heritage of the site.

The kiln is situated adjacent to the main footpath and is an integral part of the industrial history of the site dating back to the early 1800s when it was an active limestone quarry. The reserve is used daily by residents, hikers passing through, and visitors specifically coming to view the unique geological structures that were exposed by the quarrying. The site is a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of its unique geological structures and is managed in association with Natural England. The reserve is supported by the Longhope Parish Council who are corporate trustees in the Trust. The local junior school has made visits to the reserve and a local children’s conservation group visit the site to explore fossil records and industrial history. The conservation work completed this year has increased interest in the reserve and the proposed interpretation board will explain the history of the lime kiln and its construction.
Environmental considerations: The conservation work will recycle the stone that has fallen from the existing kiln. Traditional lime mortar will be used during the conservation process.

Hard to reach considerations: The reserve has unrestricted free access, and it is well known in the local community. The Trust has not taken any specific steps to encourage “hard to reach” people to visit the reserve but it is included in the local social media platforms.