Old lime oven

Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The old lime oven of Trois-Rivières, located near the beach of Grande Anse in Guadeloupe, dates from 1814. This 19th-century industrial monument was originally operated by sixteen slaves and operated near the only limestone quarry in Lower Earth. Its masonry construction, backed by slopes to facilitate access to stone-laden cabrouets, reflects engineering adapted to the local volcanic relief. The hex-shaped, hardened oven included a storage store and an internal drawing system to optimize lime production.

In the 2000s, the site was threatened by a real estate project, resulting in its protection as historical monuments in 2007. Modern works have partially altered its environment, including the removal of the access road and the rail platform. Today, the ruins of the oven, surrounded by a social subdivision, bear witness to the industrial history of Guadeloupe and its heritage linked to slavery. The protected set includes the oven, its store, a retaining wall and a 10-metre buffer zone.

The lime oven illustrates the colonial economy of the 19th century in Guadeloupe, where lime production – used for mortars, agriculture or bleaching – was based on a servile labour. Its inscription as a historic monument underscores its heritage importance, despite recent urban transformations. The bolt holes visible on the facades and the arched bay in the middle of the hanger recall the construction techniques of the period, mixing volcanic rock and artisanal know-how.

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