The project, led by the YDNPA historic environment team, focused on two local monuments. It saw the excavation of a sow kiln at Pendragon Castle, dating back to when the castle was first built, and a major conservation project on the 19th-century limekilns at Smardale, stabilising the structure and removing it from the “At Risk” register.

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Project lead: Doug Mitcham, Sarah Whiteley, Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority

Two separate projects were undertaken, one at the very start of the Scheme back in 2019 and one towards the end of the Scheme in 2023.

The first project undertaken was the excavation of a suspected sow kiln, an early sort of lime kiln, at Pendragon Castle, one of the iconic landmarks in the Westmorland Dales at the foot of Mallerstang. This was led by Dr David Johnson, engaging YDNPA volunteers and those from the Lunesdale Archaeology Society. The excavation and analysis of the finds indicated that the kiln's first use dated from the 12th Century when the castle was constructed, although there was also evidence from later use when the castle was restored by Lady Anne Clifford. 

The second project was the conservation of the 19th Century lime kilns in Smardale, built originally to provide lime for the construction of the Smardale Gill viaduct and, for a while, for use in the blast furnaces of Barrow and County Durham. During the summer of 2023 major works were undertaken by contractors to repair and stabilise the kilns, which have now been taken off Historic England’s “At Risk” register.

Pendragon Castle is privately owned but there is permissive public access. The lime kilns at Smardale are within Smardale National Nature Reserve, which is owned and managed by Cumbria Wildlife Trust, and are visible from the main route through the reserve, the line of the old railway.

The results of the Pendragon excavation can be found here:

Pendragon Lime Kiln Excavation, Part 2: The Final Results

The excavation was also covered in one of our early webinars:

Lifting the Lid Excavation webinar