Os Fornos de Cal artesanais tiveram um papel bastante importante na economia gandaresa, até meados do século XX. O principal uso do cal era como matéria-prima na construção civil, onde era utilizado no fabrico de adobes e como componente de argamassas. Era imprescindível para a construção das casas gandaresas (ou gandarezas) tradicionais.
Por isso, existiam muitas dezenas de fornos de cal artesanais, espalhados pela Sub-região da Gândara, a laborar em permanência, até serem vítimas do progresso tecnológico em meados do século XX, quando novos materiais de construção modernos, como o cimento, os tijolos cerâmicos em barro e os blocos de betão, substituíram a argamassa e os adobes fabricados com cal e areia.
E assim, muitos fornos de cal foram abandonados ou demolidos.
Hoje apresento algumas fotos curiosas, tiradas em Agosto de 2012, nas ruínas de um antigo forno de cal tradicional, localizado na Freguesia da Sanguinheira, no Concelho de Cantanhede. Apesar de certamente ter sido abandonado há menos de um século, as ruínas pitorescas deste forno de cal aparentam ser bastante mais antigas.
Once upon a time a lime kiln:
The traditional lime kilns had a very important role in the local economy of the Sub-region of Gândara, until the mid-twentieth century. The main use of lime was as raw material, used in the manufacture of adobes, and as mortar component, who were used in the construction of the traditional houses of Gândara, the "Casas Gandaresas" or "Casas Gandarezas".
So, in the past there were dozens of lime kilns working continuously, scattered throughout the Sub-region of Gândara. But in the mid-twentieth century, they were affected by the technological progress, when modern building materials (such as cement, ceramic hollow bricks and concrete blocks), replaced the lime mortar and the lime and sand adobes.
And so, without lime demand, many lime kilns were abandoned or were demolished.
Today I present a few curious photographs, taken in August 2012, in the ruins of a traditional lime kiln, located in the Civil Parish of Sanguinheira and in the Municipality of Cantanhede. Although this lime kiln has been abandoned less than a century ago, these picturesque ruins appear to be much older.
The traditional lime kilns had a very important role in the local economy of the Sub-region of Gândara, until the mid-twentieth century. The main use of lime was as raw material, used in the manufacture of adobes, and as mortar component, who were used in the construction of the traditional houses of Gândara, the "Casas Gandaresas" or "Casas Gandarezas".
So, in the past there were dozens of lime kilns working continuously, scattered throughout the Sub-region of Gândara. But in the mid-twentieth century, they were affected by the technological progress, when modern building materials (such as cement, ceramic hollow bricks and concrete blocks), replaced the lime mortar and the lime and sand adobes.
And so, without lime demand, many lime kilns were abandoned or were demolished.
Today I present a few curious photographs, taken in August 2012, in the ruins of a traditional lime kiln, located in the Civil Parish of Sanguinheira and in the Municipality of Cantanhede. Although this lime kiln has been abandoned less than a century ago, these picturesque ruins appear to be much older.
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