Description of Historic Place

The Lime Kiln is situated at 1980 Millstream Road, in the District of Highlands, British Columbia. The kiln location is marked by a pile of loosely arranged rocks and earth on the east side of the main parking lot in front of the District of Highlands municipal office. About six feet up the rubble bank is an arch of brickwork with an opening, approximately 50 inches at its widest, leading into the rock and brick-lined access chamber of the kiln. The extent of the larger kiln structure, approximately 15 feet wide in front, can be identified by the lapped rock work remains of the two front corners of the kiln, in line with the partially blocked access. The historic place consists of all surviving elements of the lime kiln as well as the mound, surrounding rock rubble and overburden.

Heritage Value

The Lime Kiln is valued because it provides historical evidence of the important role lime burning played in the economic history of the Highlands District. Lime was used for making calcium oxide (commonly known as quick-lime), a component of the plaster and mortar used in early construction methods. This kiln was in operation between 1887 and 1907, providing work to various Highlands pioneers.

The Lime Kiln is also valued as a rare example within the region of a specific type of kiln construction. Although it has the same basic footprint as the more structurally intact Atkins Lime Kiln on Hart Road in View Royal, it is likely that the burning area of the Highlands kiln had less volume, and consisted of a rock and brick limestone/fuel reservoir of lower vertical height, without a metal casing. Park of the kiln foundation on the east side was likely formed by a natural rock outcrop, which probably also served as the loading point for limestone and fuel. Two large reinforcing steel rods that likely helped stabilize the main reservoir are visible on the surface at the site.

The access to the kiln eye, or grate, of the Lime Kiln demonstrates outstanding design in its construction. The curved brick work inside the access is completely intact, and well integrated with rock and steel elements to create the grate, the area where lime was collected after burning. The grate and eye are about 20 inches wide, and are located about six feet inside the entry to the access area.

Source: District of Highlands Municipal Office

Character-Defining Elements

Key character-defining elements of the Lime Kiln include:

- Scale and location of the kiln
- Remaining structural elements of the rock kiln base
- Remaining rock rubble surrounding the kiln and partially blocking the kiln access
- The brick and stonework forming the access archways and grate structure
- The steel components of the grate structure
- The steel reinforcing rods located on each side of the access
- The overburden areas to the east, and on each side of the kiln access