Kiln

Archaeological investigations in 1997 immediately below the foundation layer for the earliest cobbled floor of one of the outbuildings at Ballymount manor uncovered a limekiln. In profile the kiln is 1.2m wide and 0.71m deep, consisting of a flat base (1m wide) of limestone slabs (top 62.32m OD) with vertical walls of irregularly shaped stones 0.6m high (south) and 0.5m high (north). The kiln is filled by three deposits: a basal layer of white lime mortar, at most 0.13m thick, an intermediate level of mixed brown soil with orange clay flecks, at most 0.36m deep, and an upper boulder infill, at most 0.22m deep. Three sherds of Dublin-type ware and one of Leinster cooking ware were recovered from the fills indicating a medieval date (Conway, 1998, 22-23). Compiled by Geraldine Stout