Description

The monument comprises the remains of limekilns, quarries and associated buildings. These are of nineteenth-century origin but continued in use into the twentieth century.

The Fladdabister limekilns are set on a prominent rocky knoll, into which quarries have been dug for limestone to burn. There are two kilns, each of similar design. They are circular on plan, about 7m across, with small lintelled draw-holes at the base. Remains of iron lintel supports survive above at least one draw-hole. The more westerly kiln has collapsed slightly on its SW side in recent years.

All around the kilns are large quarry pits, while to the SE, on the flanks of the mound and partly set into an old quarry, are the remains of two rectangular-plan buildings, the more westerly mortared, the other of drystone construction. The larger appear to have been partly of two-storey construction, and may have been associated with the operation of the quarries and kilns.

These are kilns which would have produced lime from local limestone for agricultural purposes and for construction, and operated until replaced by imported lime produced on an industrial scale.

The area to be scheduled consists of the whole of the quarried knoll, including the kilns on its summit and the buildings on its SE slope. It is irregular on plan, bounded on the NE by the top of coastal cliffs and on the S by the edge of a flat boggy area. It has maximum dimensions of 70m NW-SE by 55m, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance as a fine example of a small-scale limestone extraction and processing complex, and illustrates the sophisticated utilisation of local resources practised prior to the ready availability of industrially-produced chemicals and of the means to purchase them. It is also of interest for its lateral perspective on Shetland's emergence from near-subsistence economy to its present role in international resource exploitation and trade.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as HU 43 SW 6, 9 and 10.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland