West Midlands 2022
Harston Woods
These kilns converted limestone to quicklime (calcium oxide), used in farming during the industrial revolution to regulate soil acidity and produce enough food to supply the cities and towns, who could not otherwise feed themselves. Prior to the mass production of artificial fertilizer (nitrogen-based ammonia) via the Haber process (from 1913), burning lime to create quicklime was vital, and as a by-product also helped to purify iron during smelting (enabling cheaper coal to be used) and in the building industry(for longer-lasting mortar).
There were kilns here from the beginnings of the first industrial revolution 1780s, but these larger ones (back left in the photo) ran during the second industrial revolution from the 1880s and closed in 1920.
To find the cache location answer these questions:
A: In the 1850s output was in excess of A000 tons per week
BC: By the C7B0s output was at over 800 tons
The photo on the info board was taken between PQRS and PQTS. Then:
D=P+S
E=P+T
F=S+R
The geocache can be found at N53 01.ABC W001 57.DEF
For more information on the West Midlands 2022 event, August 1-8 2022,
visit our website, or join us on social media on
Facebook,
Twitter and
Instagram.
Stay with us all week for the best experience!
"As the geocache owner, I ensure that this links to a local geocaching group that is active in the community and contributing to geocaching in positive ways. This link has not been checked by Geocaching HQ or by the reviewer."