Ticknall Limeyards

Ticknall Limeyards is an area of disused industrial workings associated with limestone quarrying and burning in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The area has  been taken over by nature. In June there are masses of wild orchids.

In some places it is safer to stay on the paths as there are some open kilns and sheer drops. The kilns were used to burn crushed limestone. The process broke up the rock so that it could be used as fertiliser, whitewash paint or mortar.
The path leads through Ticknall Tramway Tunnel which was built in 1805 to link the limeworks with the canal at Ashby de la Zouch.


The limeyards are close to Calke Abbey.

Joy Owen