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:** *: 6 6.5.4 DRYSTONE MASONRY STRUCTURES
Description
Walled hole in which limestone was
burnt or calcined to obtain lime.
Uses
This lime kiln is called forn de la Mare
de Deu because it was built in 1857 to
produce lime for the capella Fonda
del Roser in the town's parish church
(Ordines, 1995).
Site
Next to the cam! de Coanegra, near
some crags.
Materials
Limestone, clay, lime.
Ground Plan
Circular.
Facings
The round cavity measuring 1 m in
depth by 5.30 m in diameter and called
the "caixa" (box) has a single vertical
facing which forms the heater. On
the outside it has another wall with a
wide base.
Before calcining the limestone the
interior walls were plastered with clay
or pig muck so that the fire did not
burn them.
Roofing
The drystone masonry roof called pa
de figa (dried fig block) by the lime
kiln workers, is shown in the drawing
in its assumed form. This was not a
permanent feature as it was made of
stone which was to be calcined. Thus
every time lime was made a new roof
had to be built.
A vertical limestone wall called a
pedrfs was built up from the bottom of
the heater and at the opening the
rows of stones were brought together
to make a vault. At the same time the
"olla" (the cooker) was filled with
wood. Rubble was placed on the vault
and covered with lime and clay leaving
a vent. The roof projected one
metre above the outside walls of the
kiln.
Flooring
The floor of the kiln, called the cendrer,
was made of earth.
Openings
A large opening was left in the box to
put in the stone and the wood and to
extract the lime. As the kiln filled up
the opening was covered with a stone
and clay wall called a portada and a
hole was left to light the fire and to
feed it whilst calcining the lime. A
large flat stone called an enfornadora
was placed in the middle of the lower
part of the portada at an angle and
flanked by two smaller stones. These
stones made it easier to put in the firewood.
Accessory items
It does not have any accessory items.
Location
Cami de Coanegra, Santa Maria del
Cam!.