Christon Bank Lime Kilns

At Fabulous North we are busy looking for all of the lime kilns in Northumberland that still stand, and this one at Christon Bank is an impressive structure! Well hidden amongst the trees, this is an example of a double unit lime kiln, and for some reason it reminded me of a baby elephant as I approached it.

Christon Bank was once a small farming hamlet named after the Cryston family who lived here in the late 1500s. The farm, which existed here for many years, expanded in the 1800s and still thrives today.

Following the success of farming here, commercial lime production was set up and one of the two kilns was built in the early 1800s, with the other being built later that century. The lime produced here was used as fertiliser for local farms, as it counteracted soil acidity.

Other reminders of the lime industry are still here too. The quarry nearby where the lime was extracted is still visible but is now flooded; There were also bell pits (shallow coal mines) in one of the fields, which may have provided the coal used to burn the lime inside the kilns.

In 2005, Defra awarded funding to Peter Bridgeman, landowner of Fallodon Estate, to help repair and preserve the kilns. A grant was also provided by Alnwick District Council. Vegetation was cleared from the kilns and stonework was repointed to help preserve the kilns for future generations.

Three points on the leaderboard if you visit this one. If you fancy a lengthier walk, you could park up at Embleton and wander through the fields - there were no cows when I visited, but it's possible they might be roaming around so take care.