The Lime Kiln, Weighbridge and Firemans Hut

On the opposite side of the road to The Anchorage is a large stone built lime kiln with an iron weigh bridge and stone firemans hut. They are in a remarkable state of preservation as they have twice been restored in the past three decades. They date from the 19th century and many of them exist around the shores of Pembrokeshire’s inlets. There are others around Sandy Haven creek but they are usually overgrown and partly destroyed by tree growth. They existed for the production of lime to improve the quality of the soils in the fields. Culm (anthracite dust and chippings) was brought from Hook Quarry further up the Milford Haven Waterway together with limestone from the extensive limestone quarries near Carew (now overgrown and inaccessible). The materials were transported in small sailing sloops which had flat bottoms and were unloaded at low tide on the sandbanks in the creeks. If you walk up Sandy Haven creek at low tide you will find many pieces of Hook anthracite washing out of the sandbanks where the sailing craft unloaded into horse drawn carts.

– John Roobol

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