Works continue at Sandy Bay Beach with the Lime Kiln being restored by a team of workers from the private sector.

The lime kiln is an important part of St Helena’s heritage since it was used to make lime to build the fortification wall at Sandy Bay and other buildings, sadly the latter is no longer there. According to the St Helena Records, a lime kiln was to be completed at Sandy Bay in July/August 1709 and this might be the same one which stands there today.

More restoration work still needs to be done, and Pamela Young, Director of Tourism expects that work will be completed early 2004. It should be noted however, that at this point in time it is dangerous to walk above the kiln while the restoration works are being carried out as there is a deep hole at the top.

Some coal has been found on the site and the Tourist Office is interested in finding out whether this came from the Ebony wood that once grew there. The St Helena Records shows that in 1709, there was a huge quantity of Ebony wood lying on the hills in Sandy Bay and it appears as though this wood was burnt in the lime kiln.

The area in front of the fortification wall has also been built up and workers from the Public Works and Services Department have been widening a pathway, which will connect this widened area to the beach. Already species, such as crab, are taking to the rocks which were only recently placed in the water to build the area up.

Funding to restore the lime kiln is coming from the Tourist Office while the development of the beach is being funded by the United Nations Development Programme Tourism Project.

More work still has to be done and a major project will be the repairing of the fortification wall, which has deteriorated due to years of the weather elements and salt water hitting against it. Fortunately the water no longer reaches the wall. Repair work will begin early 2004.