Dyserth Lime Kilns

There are the remains of five lime kilns on Foel Road and Upper Foel Road. Only the four on Upper Foel Road are visible and accessible. Of these, the two larger kilns – No.2 & No.4 – are Grade 2 Listed Buildings. Number 2 is inscribed with the date of 1894.

In 2011 Dyserth Environmental Group engaged the Community Payback Team to clear and tidy the ground in front of Kiln No.2, assisted by funding from the Tidy Towns Initiative. The Group then erected an information panel at the kiln.

Kiln 2

Following this, as Chairman of the Environmental Group, I had various site meetings with Tarmac’s Senior Estates Surveyor at the kiln and was subsequently asked if the Environmental Group would be interested in acquiring it. We were unable to take this on and I referred the matter to the Community Council.

The process took several years but in 2019 Dyserth Community Council purchased all five lime kilns from Tarmac for the sum of £1 – though the Council had to pay the legal fees.

In 2021-22, with funding from Gwynt y Môr Wind Farm, the Community Council cleared the land in front of Kiln No. 4 and installed two picnic benches. However, a survey of the kiln concluded that it was unsafe to approach so the current fence was installed.

Kiln 3, after work in 2022

Since then further work has been halted and various surveys and consultations have taken place – leading to the proposals to be shown to the public on 4th September in Dyserth Community Hall, 2 - 7 p.m.

Kiln 4 in 2009

Dyserth Kiln Workers c1905, I don't have names. I think this could be Kiln 4

Kiln 4 in April 2023

In the meantime the site is rather overgrown again, but nothing like it was before. At one time it was virtually invisible; go past with Google Streetview (captured in Sept 2021) and Kiln 2 is the only one visible.

Kiln 5 is much smaller

To visit these kilns by car the nearest car parks are off Thomas Avenue or at the start of the Dyserth-Prestatyn Way. (parking may be available in the High Street).

Pete Robinson, Editor

From above the lime kilns from a postcard posted in 1931, Includes Thomas Avenue with no houses

As this image from a postcard posted in 1910 shows, there was a very large lime kiln across the road from the quarry, served by a light railway over the road.

These photos and many others are available on my websitewww.dyserth.com

The kiln in the previous photo was later replaced by these. They and the railway were in use until the 1970s. The bridge over the Trelawnyd Road was dismantled in the 1980s.

The old quarry bridge in 1982, after the kilns had been demolished. On the left is Pandy Lane and what is now the Surgery. I don’t know whose shop is on the extreme right; to the left of it is what had been Hughes Brothers’ butchers shop at Bryn Ceri.