• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
Limestone Landscapes logo
Making a positive difference to the unique environment of the Magnesian Limestone area
Heritage Lottery Fund logo
  • About Us
    • Aims and objectives
    • Partners
  • Our Work
    • Publications
    • Project videos
    • Limestone Landscapes Film
  • Projects
  • Unique
    • Landscapes
    • Wildlife
    • Geodiversity
    • Historic and Built Heritage
    • Cultural Heritage
  • Things to do
    • Places to Visit
    • Self-Guided Walks – Limestone
  • Contact Us
  • Menu Item

Hawthorn Hive Lime Kilns

The Hawthorn Hive Lime Kilns

Hawthorn Hive Kilns from above before restoration

Hawthorn Hive Kilns from above before restoration

Left

  • Hawthorn Hive Kilns from above before restoration Hawthorn Hive Kilns from above before restoration
  • Hawthorn Hive Lime Kilns before restoration Hawthorn Hive Lime Kilns before restoration
  • Hawthorn Hive Lime Kilns and wall after restoration Hawthorn Hive Lime Kilns and wall after restoration
  • WW1 Barbed wire fence poles found in the Kilns WW1 Barbed wire fence poles found in the Kilns
  • Walkers at the restored Hawthorn Hive Lime Kiln Walkers at the restored Hawthorn Hive Lime Kiln

Right

The Hawthorn Hive Lime Kilns are located at the mouth of Hawthorn Dene, just north of Easington Colliery.

Before

When surveyed in 2012 one of the three arches had collapsed completely, a second arch was mostly collapsed, however a third arch of the kilns was largely complete. It was agreed that we would work to restore this arch.

During

The site was problematic to reach, due to its remote location, however Lafarge Tarmac allowed our contractors to set up a site office in Hawthorn Quarry. The contractors worked with Durham Wildlife Trust to ensure that there was no damage to the wildlife at Hawthorn Meadows when the equipment and materials were carried down into the Dene and along paths to the Hawthorn Hive site.

Natural England gave permission for us to use stones from the Dene Stream bed to rebuild the retaining wall adjacent to the kilns and volunteers from National Trust cleared scrub from around the kilns.

During the restoration work the contractors found three WW1 barded wire fence poles that had been ‘fly tipped’ within the kiln, after the end of WW1.

After

The kilns are accessible via a public footpath that runs down to the mouth of Hawthorn Dene.

  • Accessibility statement |
  • Legal Information

Copyright © 2025Durham County Council.
Developed by DCC Web Team.