On top of the kilns, a cart filled with raw limestone arrived from the quarry. Workers pushed the cart to one of the eight kilns and dumped the stone into an open kiln for burning. Inside the kiln, layers of stone alternated with layers of coke, a hot-burning residue of coal. After the burn, workers removed the burnt limestone, called quicklime, from the base of the kiln for delivery to the grinder/slaker shed.