THE future of a village landmark has been secured thanks to a £10,000 windfall from North Somerset Council. The historic lime kiln on the edge of Uphill, which dates back to about 1830, was in danger of falling down after enormous cracks appeared in its

THE future of a village landmark has been secured thanks to a £10,000 windfall from North Somerset Council.The historic lime kiln on the edge of Uphill, which dates back to about 1830, was in danger of falling down after enormous cracks appeared in its walls last year.But the council stepped in to save the structure, which stands near the banks of the River Axe, after agreeing to carry out repairs costing £10,150.Stainless steel anchors are to be inserted horizontally into the kiln walls to stabilise it. Work is due to start on Monday and should be finished within four weeks.The council originally said it did not have the funds to carry out the repairs and asked Uphill Village Society to apply for grants to shore up the kiln.But when cash became available towards the end of the financial year, the authority's streets and open spaces department said it could do the work.The giant oven is a familiar landmark with walkers and for more than 100 years fired lime mined from the adjacent quarry. It was used, among other things, as whitewash for houses and exported all over the country.Village hill warden Vinah Bell says the kiln is the best example of its type in the area.