Archaeological findings at the sidings
The remains of a ‘Hoffmann Kiln’, one of nine constructed in Ireland, were discovered on the site during construction
The Grand Canal and Dock were constructed to the east of the site by 1796 and in October 1834 the world’s first commuter railway line was opened from Pearse Street Station to Kingstown (Dún Laoghaire). The railway line was largely constructed on a stone-lined embankment, a section of which forms the northern boundary to the site. These projects resulted in commercial development of the area, one of which was the construction of a ‘Hoffmann’ Lime Burning Kiln on the site by the Boston Lime Company in 1870. The limestone raw material was quarried in Boston, Ardclough, Co. Kildare and transported to the site by barge along the Grand Canal.
Example of a Hoffmann Lime Kiln in Harpur Hill, England similar to the one discovered on site
Source: harpurhist.com
How a Hoffmann Kiln works:
A Hoffmann Lime Kiln in Mildenberg, Germany similar to the one discovered on site
Source: en.photo-ac.com
In 1878 the ‘Dublin, Wicklow & Wexford Railway Company’ bought the site and the kiln structure was demolished.
After demolition, the stone rubble was used to build boundary walls to the south and east and the levels of the land were raised by about 3m by the importation of soil and rubble, following which a railway sidings (Boston Sidings) was constructed – that is how the remains of the Hoffmann Kiln ended up buried.
Removal of the soil and rubble fill revealed the partial remains of a fourteen-chamber kiln, including evidence of the outer stone wall with fourteen access-features (Wickets), and the circuit of the lime-burning chambers (Annulus). Much of the inner core of the kiln was intact, including brick-lined flues which allowed the smoke and gasses to escape to the central circular chimney. Aside from some foundation remains of two smoke chambers, all the upper level of the kiln, including a raised floor area and roof, had been demolished.
Archaelogical investigation
Based on the results of the detailed investigation of the remains, it is concluded that the structure was a fourteen-chambered ovoid kiln, with a centrally-positioned smokestack / chimney; the original external extents of the kiln measured 33.5m in length (E-W) and 20.5m in width (N-S). It included a trolley line which was routed outside the perimeter of the structure and which allowed the raw materialsand burnt lime to be transported in trolley carts.
Sketch Plan – Excavated
Sketch Plan – Speculative
Outer Limestone Wall
Flue Shaft
Trapezoidal Brick Face
Excavation – Mid Section
