Much of the soil on the Blackdown Hills is very acidic. After the 1851 Inclosure Acts there was a huge demand for lime as farmers wanted to spread lime on the newly enclosed commons to reduce the acidity of the soil. As a result, an extensive lime burning industry grew around the Bishopswood area and continued throughout the century. Quicklime was also an essential resource for the building industry. Quicklime (Calcium Oxide) was mixed with water to make slaked lime which was used as a putty and whitewash. It was also mixed with sand to make lime mortar, often considered superior to modern cements as it allows the building to breathe. The kiln, which has a capacity of 19 tons, is of stone construction and stands at approximately four meters high. It was sited to make use of the prevailing wind and was ignited with brushwood. The kiln is lined with red shale or slate and would have reached a temperature of 1000 °C in its hottest point, the burning zone. Limestone and fuel (coal or culm) were placed in alternating layers at the top of the kiln. The limestone would have come from the adjacent quarry and it is likely that the fuel was from South Wales, transported via the Chard Canal. The burnt lump lime (quicklime) fell through a grate at the bottom of the kiln and was removed from below.