PASSAGIUM REGINAE The - Royal Dunfermline

Lime Works‟ and bears the inscription „Presented by his Lordship to the Earl
of Ailesbury.‟ It is from the descendant of the latter that the descendant of
the former has now seems to have been in charge of the works. It is dated 16
th Sept. 1796, and signed by one John Ross, who seems to have been in
charge of the works. It gives some interesting particulars concerning the
industry, as for example: -
„Since the year 1789 some very material alterations has taken place at these
works: By observation, and experiments made, it was found that the kilns were
too narrow below, and it was considered that widening them downwards would
make a great improvement, they were therefore widened, two of them in
particular, that were only 9 feet wide at bottom are now 15, and 16 feet wide, and
they are considered the best kilns known of anywhere; They have likewise been
raised from 3 to 4 feet higher than they were originally the result of the whole has
produced the most beneficial consequences.
„Formerly, in the prime of the season, (the longest day) the dayly consumpt, of
limestone at the kilns was 135 waggons of 2⅓ Tons each, or 315 Tons in whole,
producing an average from 900 to 1000 Bolls* of Limeshells and from 250 to
300 Bs. Lumber, from which Slacked Lime is made.
„The waggons has also been enlarged to carry 3 Tons each, and the dayly
consumpt, at the same period is now 160 waggons and 480 Tons, producing on
an average 1600 Bolls of Limeshells and 250 Bolls of Lumber.
„All this additional work is performed with the same number of men and
waggons as formerly acting with more energy [Can‟t you see him putting in the
extra „n‟!] to their own emolument, as well as their constituents [sic].
„The medium profits of ten years preceding 1789 came to little more than
£1900, notwithstanding two or three years of the latter part of that period in
which Mr Forbes of Callandir got very large quantities of Lime and Limestone
that enlarged the sale greatly and encreased the profits: Since then they have
progressively risen to, and in some years has exceeded, £3000, as will appear
from the annexed abstract of Sales and profits.
„The sales of Lime shells will far exceed 22,000 Bolls and 4000 Chalders† of
Slacked Lime well above £13,000, or fully £14,000 value, yielding a profit of
above pared with the een preceding years, the prices having been raised a little
this year, and when they are raised to what is proposed, 1/- per Boll of Lime
shells, [the existing price was 10d. p. boll] and Slacked lime and Lime Shells in
proportion, the annual profits of the works in favourable Season will not be less
than £6000 Str. Independent of the Coalierie purchased some years ago, which
when opened up by a proper level to carry off the water and the proposed waggon
way executed will be found fitt to yield a revenue, from the sale of coals, of from
one to two or three Thousand Pounds annually, as it is prosecute with spirit or
not, and that for a long period of time being an extensive field of 900 acres of
many seams of the best quality of coals: add to this, that it is known for certain
* 6½ bolls lime shells =1 ton. † 1 chalder of slacked lime = 18 bolls.
1 boll lime shells = 8788 cubic inches. 2 chalders of slacked lime = 1 ton.
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