Standing just under seven metres tall, with a base four metres wide, View RoyalB次元官网网址檚 historic lime kiln is a massive structure.

ItB次元官网网址檚 been marked for preservation by town council, who have ponied up $25,000 to start the process.

Silica Brick and Lime Company Ltd., owned by Thomas Atkins, built the kiln circa 1908 and used it up until sometime in the 1940s. Since then it has sat undisturbed on a parcel of land on Hart Road, while development has gone on all around it.

The problem is, in its current state, itB次元官网网址檚 falling apart and hard to see from the road. ThereB次元官网网址檚 also no access to the public. The bricks are getting a little crumbly and the sheet metal that surrounds the chimney has corroded to the point it has mostly fallen off the structure. It is surrounded by trees and bush. One tree has even grown up through the kiln and out the chimney.

Now, with the help of a heritage consultant and View RoyalB次元官网网址檚 financial commitment, the kiln will receive much needed tending and be opened up for the public to visit and learn from.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 amazing it survived like this at all, if you left it much longer it wouldnB次元官网网址檛,B次元官网网址� said Donald Luxton, of Donald Luxton and Associates Inc.  B次元官网网址淪o (they need to) go in, stop the growth of the trees, remove biological matter, start the conservation process. And then if it takes five, 10, 15 years B次元官网网址� whatever it takes, work towards the goal.B次元官网网址�

The kiln was used to process limestone, common in the area, into a powered lime, a primary component in mortar at the time.

The kiln would heat the limestone, in a process called calcination, until it became reduced to quicklime (calcium oxide).

Water is then added which turns the lime into a powder, ready to be used in mortar, plaster and other products.

There were numerous lime kilns scattered throughout Greater Victoria, before industrialized methods of lime production and the advent of Portland cement (an improved product that continues to be used today) made small scale operations financially unsustainable.

Now they are hard to find, especially oneB次元官网网址檚 that are still standing.

B次元官网网址淎bsolutely rare. ThereB次元官网网址檚 very, very few of them around,B次元官网网址� said Luxton, who hopes the story of the kiln and the general industrial history of the area can be told to visitors of the site.

Interpretation will be a key element of the refurbish, either through signs, or even more technologically advanced methods such as cellphone apps or QR codes.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 one thing to have the artifact, which is great,B次元官网网址� Luxton said, B次元官网网址渂ut the whole point of this is itB次元官网网址檚 there to tell us something, and thatB次元官网网址檚 why we would go to the trouble of conserving it.B次元官网网址�

Counc. John Rogers spearheaded the conservation process and said he applauds the rest of council for understanding the significance of the site.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 our background, what we celebrate and why View Royal exists,B次元官网网址� said Rogers. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 such a rare structure, being intact like this, it gives us an opportunity, and the region an opportunity to remember its history.B次元官网网址�

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