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New Kiln on the Block

Re-creation of Medieval Welsh Lime-Kiln at St Fagans: National History Museum

A 13th-century lime-kiln, built by a team of volunteers under the direction of renowned British architect and lime specialist Stafford Holmes, is the most recent addition to St Fagans: National History Museum's historic collections.

The first reconstruction of its kind, the kiln has been created in time for the Building Limes Forum's 15th annual conference ‘Lime in Wales,' held at Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales 22-24 September 2006. Members of the charitable organization, which encourages expertise and understanding in the use of lime in building, will get an insight into the design of the exhibit, based on the remains of a medieval kiln at Cilgerran Castle, Pembrokeshire.

A traditional binder for mortars and plasters, lime was the most widely used building material across the world for thousands of years and more recently there has been a resurgence of interest in the material from conservators of historic buildings. It also attracts those at the forefront of sustainable new-build, mainly because it is a more environmentally sustainable building material than cement.

Gerallt Nash, Senior Curator, Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales said:

“The rebuilding of the kiln, based on a 13th-century structure, has been an exciting exercise in experimental archaeology and will hopefully give us a better understanding of how lime was prepared and used in the past.”

It is positioned near the site of one of the Museum's most ambitious projects to date, St Teilo's Church from Llandeilo Tal-y-Bont, which was also built in the 13th century.

Cliff Blundell, member of the Building Limes Forum's Welsh Organising Committee and Director of The Lime Company of West Wales Ltd commented:

“I believe this is the first time a reproduction of a medieval lime kiln has been attempted. These volunteers can be proud of their achievement and I have no doubt that their respect for the skills of the medieval mason is much increased. Mine certainly is! On behalf of the Building Limes Forum, thank you to all of you, it has been hard work but mighty satisfying.”

Gerallt Nash concluded:

“We are delighted to welcome members of The Building Limes Forum from across the globe to Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales this year, for a weekend of discussions and debate, and to witness the debut lime-kiln burn.

“The organization is actively concerned with the repair of historic buildings therefore we are confident St Fagans will be of significant interest to them, with the highlight being the firing of the replica medieval lime-kiln.”

Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales operates seven national museums across Wales. These are National Museum Cardiff, St Fagans: National History Museum, National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon, Big Pit: National Coal Museum, Blaenafon, National Wool Museum, Dre-fach Felindre, National Slate Museum, Llanberis and the National Waterfront Museum, Swansea.

Entry to all national museums is free thanks to the support of the Welsh Assembly Government.