Most of the posts on this blog are about the beauty of the Yorkshire Dales, but sometimes the most interesting or surprising places aren't really beautiful in the traditional sense of the word. They're awe-inspiring or perhaps challenging in some way. The Hoffmann Kiln is an old industrial feature which may not sound very appealing, but its sheer scale, hidden location and atmosphere make it remarkable.
Many people have no clue that the Hoffmann Kiln lies a short distance from Settle, or of its size and significance. It's not easy to find - drive on the B6479 out of Settle towards Langcliffe and it's opposite the quarry, then under the railway bridge. There's a small car park.
Don't think of a kiln in the usual small pottery sense - this is a vast feat of engineering, with interpretation panels to explain how it functioned.
Venturing inside the archways you'll instantly experience the eerie damp darkness of the huge tunnel. This incredible structure was built in 1873 for the Craven Lime Company using a patented system created by a German inventor to burn lime. There were 22 individual burning chambers working in a continuous circuit, taking around 6 weeks to complete the cycle. Considering how much effort went into the creation of this huge construction, it wasn't in use for very long, with the last firing in 1937. In 1951 there were plans to demolish the chimney but it fell down of its own accord the day before the planned ceremony, when no-one was looking!
A good way to experience the Hoffmann Kiln is to download this informative free audio trail. Park in the car park in nearby Stainforth and then walk along the river Ribble, by Stainforth Foss waterfall to Langclifee and then by the Hoffmann Kiln.
Many people have no clue that the Hoffmann Kiln lies a short distance from Settle, or of its size and significance. It's not easy to find - drive on the B6479 out of Settle towards Langcliffe and it's opposite the quarry, then under the railway bridge. There's a small car park.
Don't think of a kiln in the usual small pottery sense - this is a vast feat of engineering, with interpretation panels to explain how it functioned.
Venturing inside the archways you'll instantly experience the eerie damp darkness of the huge tunnel. This incredible structure was built in 1873 for the Craven Lime Company using a patented system created by a German inventor to burn lime. There were 22 individual burning chambers working in a continuous circuit, taking around 6 weeks to complete the cycle. Considering how much effort went into the creation of this huge construction, it wasn't in use for very long, with the last firing in 1937. In 1951 there were plans to demolish the chimney but it fell down of its own accord the day before the planned ceremony, when no-one was looking!
A good way to experience the Hoffmann Kiln is to download this informative free audio trail. Park in the car park in nearby Stainforth and then walk along the river Ribble, by Stainforth Foss waterfall to Langclifee and then by the Hoffmann Kiln.
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