Mechanical Landscapes

#683 – Shapfell Lime Kiln 1

The massive lime kilns at Shap are easily visible from the M6, and while I’ve driven past them countless times over the past 20 or so year, I’d never had the opportunity to stop and take a look.

I always thought that they made a dramatic contrast to the fells in the background as they belched out white smoke over the rural landscape.

Sod’s law dictated that when I finally took a look, they weren’t in use. I thought that this could be the result of a Christmas shutdown although I did read on a Facebook post from someone knowledgeable about these things that they’d been mothballed. However I’ve not seen anything about that elsewhere online, and I’ve not been up this way since so I don’t know there operational status as of the time of publication.

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Andy

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2 responses to “#683 – Shapfell Lime Kiln 1”

  1. Clive Hollingworth Avatar
    Clive Hollingworth

    Hi Andy,

    Share your frustration as despite living in the area for some time my visits failed to yield any worthwhile shots. Also I never saw all the kilns operational at once, one was always closed down. I think the main customer for the output was TATA steel.

    Clive

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    1. Andy Avatar
      Andy

      Thanks Clive, every time I’ve driven past they’ve been billowing out white smoke / steam and I’ve thought- that would make a good picture, pity I can’t stop. And then when I do stop, they’re switched off. Still, they’re not going anywhere anytime soon so hopefully they’ll be working next time I make a dedicated trip up to see them!

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