Llanymynech Heritage Area

Location: Adjacent to the A483 6 miles south of Oswestry, grid ref SJ266211 (to see a map showing the location of the site click on the link on this page)

The LLIMEYS and the tree planting world record

The LLIMEYS and local people have planted 14 trees on the site as part of the BBC’s breathing spaces world record attempt to plant a record number of trees in one hour. The group managed it with 18 minutes to spare so a well earned cup of tea was a good reward.

Work planned for the next couple of months includes the installation of a boardwalk linking the path in Llwyn Goch wood to the fields, without negating the steps, making it a lot easier to access the site.
There are also plans for a toposcope to be erected within the quarry and to restore the Welsh Drum house. We are working closely with Powys County Council and the LLIMEYS to get this project up and running next year so watch this space we may need your ideas!

The LLIMEYS are always looking to recruit more volunteers whether you have an interest in the industrial heritage or the natural environment, practical work or research. If you are interested please get in touch.

Things to do and see

Hoffman Limekiln
Visit one of only 3 remaining Hoffman Kilns in the country and explore it both inside and out! Used for the continual 'burning' of lime it was adapted from a brick kiln.

wander through woods and meadows
The site covers a large area with a variety of different habitats to explore freely.

circular walks
The Hoffman Hike leaflet is available as an attachment on this page.
A family friendly route has been designed at the site and is available for download on this page. (Other family friendly walks are available at other Countryside sites).

Recreational Activities: Reasonably level walking, some surfaced paths. Some unsurfaced routes and rough ground.

The Llanymynech Community Project, originally funded through Heritage Lottery Fund, hosts a website which you can access by clicking on the link on this page. This website contains plenty of information about the Heritage Project and also educational and general interest material.

A small parking area is available off the A483 at the British Waterways depot. Alternatively you can park in the car park behind the Dolphin pub just to the west of the crossroads in the village or start in Pant, at the (signed) Shropshire Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve car park at the end of Underhill Lane.

A unique opportunity to discover our industrial past! As one of only 3 remaining Hoffman Kilns in the country, this is a nationally significant industrial heritage area. The site forms part of the ‘Limeworks’ landscape, from rock extraction on the high cliffs of Llanymynech Rocks, down the inclined planes through to the kilns and beyond, transporting the finished lime via the Montgomery Canal and Railway.

This area was a major centre of the lime industry until the beginning of the 1900's and retains a number of important features of industrial archaeology. The impressive 42.5 metre high chimney of the Hoffmann Kiln dominates the site and provides visitors with a focal point to a varied site. Short circular walks (30 mins - 2 hrs) take you past impressive lime kilns, through woodland, along canals and disused railways, and across grazed pasture with views of Llanymynech Rocks, a Shropshire Wildlife Trust and Montgomery Wildlife Trust nature reserve. There are interpretation panels and specially commissioned sculptures along the way.

The Llanymynech Limeworks Heritage Project a 3 year project, which has now been completed.
The project started in March 2006 and ran until February 2009. It received funding support of nearly £900,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund, English Heritage, The Aggregates Levy Sustainable Fund and from the project partners to restore and conserve this nationally significant site. A Conservation Plan has been developed which outlines the conservation issues and provides a summary of the recommendations to take forward the development of the site. The Conservation Plan is provided as an attachment on this page.

Contact the Llanymynech Countryside Ranger for further information about the site and LLIMEYS – Friends of the Llanymynech Limeworks Heritage Area. The LLIMEYS have run a number of family events including Llanymynech Discovery Day on Sunday May 17th 2009.

Grazing
Grazing is the best way of managing the meadows on this site and we are working with the 'Shropshire Local Grazing Scheme (SLGS)' to support or introduce grazing management where feasible. To find out more about the SLGS click the link on this page

If you or your organisation would like to hold a public event on this site please contact us

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