A look at the history of Toft Gate Lime Kiln, Bewerley, with Dr Emma Wells

You’ve probably travelled the B6265 between Grassington and Pateley Bridge never paying much attention to the embattled silhouette of Coldstones Cut just perched in the distance, yet this is Yorkshire’s largest and highest public artwork. Created by artist Andrew Sabin, this behemoth just 2 miles outside of Pateley Bridge on Greenhow Hill is constructed from massive stones sourced from a nearby quarry, offering breath-taking panoramic views.

On clear days, the vistas are among the finest in the country, and you can even see the nearby quarry. The site also features the remnants of a long flue, part of an old lime kiln, which showcases the region’s rich industrial history. During the 19th century, limestone was extracted and heated in kilns to produce quicklime.

Toft Gate, built in the late 1860s, was a very rare continuous burn, dual feed, vertical furnace kiln and, together with its associated quarries here, is remarkably well-preserved though little is currently known about their history, ownership and management besides that the Ingleby family held limestone rights in the area from the early 17th century and lead mining rights from 1785.

Still, the kiln structure, comprising a mixture of sandstone and limestone blocks held by iron ties, appears to have been an experimental design as no similar examples of this style dating to this period are known elsewhere.

In addition, the site boasts prospecting pits and evidence of both limestone and lead mining. Lime has been extracted in the region since the medieval era, for use in agriculture, building materials, and mortar. The late Georgian and Victorian era, however, saw a boom in demand, leading to the construction of large-scale commercial kilns. Although this one at Toft Gate ceased operation by the early 20th century, its remains offer a rare glimpse into the industrial past of the area and the evolution of lime production technology.

Address: The Coldstones Cut, Bewerley, Harrogate HG3 5JQ, United Kingdom

---

Books by Dr Emma Wells