The Ticknall Tramway and Limeyards offer a fascinating glimpse into the industrial past of this South Derbyshire village. Built in the late 18th century, the tramway was a pioneering horse-drawn railway used to transport limestone. This valuable resource was quarried from the nearby limeyards, a hive of activity where stone was processed into lime for agricultural and building purposes. The remnants of both the tramway and the limeyards provide a tangible link to a time of significant industrial development in the region. Exploring these sites reveals the ingenuity and hard labour that shaped the landscape and local communities.
Ticknall Limeyards in the 1800s
The image depicts the Ticknall Limeyards in their bustling heyday, a stark contrast to their present state. The scene is dominated by numerous circular lime kilns, their tops glowing with intense heat and emitting plumes of smoke, visually confirming the text’s description: “Imagine the smoke, grime and dust filling the air…” Workers are shown actively tending to the kilns, some shovelling material while others oversee the burning process. A horse-drawn tramway, a key element of the Ticknall industrial landscape, snakes through the yard, transporting raw limestone or finished lime. The text further explains, “The structures before you are the old lime kilns. They were used to burn crushed limestone using coal as a fuel.” The illustration vividly brings to life the text’s account of the kilns working “24 hours a day,” highlighting the intense industrial activity that once characterised this location.
Ticknall Limeyards Today
Looking at the photo above, the Ticknall Limeyards today present a tranquil scene, a stark contrast to the industrial activity depicted in the earlier image. The landscape is now dominated by greenery, with trees and vegetation reclaiming much of the site. The remnants of the lime kilns are still visible, appearing as moss-covered stone structures, partially collapsed and overgrown. The tramway lines are no longer present, and the overall impression is one of nature gradually absorbing the industrial past.
Ticknall Limeyards and the National Trust
The Ticknall Limeyards are owned and managed by the National Trust, as they are part of the wider Calke Abbey estate. The National Trust’s philosophy for managing industrial heritage sites like this generally leans towards conservation that acknowledges the site’s history without necessarily aiming for full restoration. They often prioritise stabilisation to prevent further decay and make the sites safe for visitors, while also allowing nature to take its course to a certain extent.
The focus is often on interpretation, helping visitors understand the site’s past and its significance. This can involve information panels, guided walks, and sometimes carefully managed access to certain areas. In the case of Ticknall Limeyards, which are also a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to their geological importance and the presence of calcareous grassland and orchids, the National Trust’s management would also prioritise ecological conservation. This means balancing the preservation of the industrial remains with the need to protect and enhance the natural environment that has developed there.
Therefore, the Limeyards are likely managed to be safe and accessible for visitors to explore, with information provided about their history. The visible ruins are preserved to prevent further collapse, but there’s likely no attempt to rebuild or recreate the industrial processes that once took place. Instead, the site is presented as a historical landscape where nature and industry have intertwined, offering a unique glimpse into the past.
Blackwater Pit at Ticknall Limeyards
Blackwater Pit at Ticknall Limeyards reveals the area’s industrial past. Its steep limestone sides show how deeply it was quarried. A historical photo featured in Ticknall Life captures a stone-crushing machine once used here. The article by Bryan Smith is well worth a read and includes a map of the area pinpointing the different limeyards. Over time, the pit flooded, transforming into a tranquil water-filled basin. Today, it is surrounded by woodland, with wildlife thriving around its clear, reflective waters. Walkers explore the scenic trails, passing remnants of lime kilns and tramways that once powered the local industry.
Ticknall Tramway
The Ticknall Tramway was a pioneering horse-drawn railway constructed in the late 18th century, primarily to transport limestone from the quarries and limeyards around Ticknall to the Ashby Canal. This was a crucial link in the transportation network, facilitating the distribution of lime for agricultural and building purposes across the wider region.
Raw limestone was transported from the quarries to the limeyards for processing, and then the burnt lime was moved to the canal for onward shipping. It also likely carried coal to fuel the lime kilns and potentially other goods related to the industrial activities in the area.
The tramway utilised wooden rails, later replaced with cast iron, upon which wagons were pulled by horses. The gauge of the track was 4 ft 2 in (1,270 mm). Horses would pull the loaded wagons along the track, providing a more efficient and faster method of transportation compared to traditional carts on roads. The incline of the terrain sometimes required multiple horses for heavier loads, and careful management was needed for descents.
The Route of the Ticknall Tramway
The main line of the tramway was approximately 12.8 miles (20.6 km) long. It stretched from the lime quarries and limeyards around Ticknall down to Willesley Basin on the Ashby Canal. Within the Ticknall area, there were various branches and sidings to serve different quarries and industrial sites. The route generally followed the contours of the land, utilising cuttings and embankments to maintain a relatively level track. While the main terminus was Willesley Basin, the tramway’s network was centred around Ticknall, connecting the various industrial activities to the canal system.