WORK begins this week to save rare and endangered lime kilns at a former North-East quarry.

Marsden Lime Kilns are a well-known local landmark and form part of a huge industrial structure associated with Marsden Quarry and Whitburn Colliery, in South Tyneside.

Limestone from the quarry and coal from the colliery was fed into the top of the kilns to produce quicklime for use in agriculture and the steel and chemical industries.

The lime was collected from the bottom of the kilns and loaded onto railway wagons, belonging to the affectionately named “Marsden Rattler”, which took the lime to the docks at South Shields.

The kilns, which are a scheduled monument, form an important landmark along South Tyneside’s coastal trail. In recent years, the condition of the kilns has deteriorated and they are now on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk register due to their poor condition.

These urgent repairs will ensure that the kilns are stabilised and made safe for future generations to enjoy.

The work is being funded through a partnership between Historic England and the Owen Pugh Group, which runs Marsden Quarry, as part of a £450,000 project.

An experienced team of conservation specialists is working on the project, including Team Force Restoration Ltd, Kevan Doonan Architects and Alan Williams Archaeology. South Tyneside Council is also providing additional advice.

Team Force Restoration will remove a number of hazardous elements and carry out some strengthening works.

Carol Pyrah, Historic England’s planning director for the North-East, said: “We are delighted to help save this important local landmark and secure its future removal from the Heritage at Risk Register.”

John Dickson, chairman of the Owen Pugh Group, said: “Marsden lime kilns have been a significant feature in South Tyneside’s landscape since the 1870s and are a visible reminder of our industrial past.

"We are delighted that work is finally getting underway to ensure their long-term preservation and we are delighted to be partnering with conservation specialists Team Force Restoration to complete the works after funding was secured from Historic England to match our own input.”