Discovered in 1750, coal was mined between 1839 and 1869 near Le Temple and La Tabarière to the south of Chantonnay. Two slag heaps, the old mine office and traces of the excavation still remain.
The coal was transported to the nearby lime kilns to be used as fuel for firing the limestone extracted from quarries in the Chantonnay basin. The mines and lime kilns belonged to the same company.
Among these kilns, the Five Kilns built in 1848, located around 1 km north of the Temple mine, are well preserved. They form an undoubtedly unique ensemble, reminiscent of medieval fortifications. The five furnaces closed at the end of the 19th century and only 3 remain.
There were other kilns in Chantonnay at Pont Corne (a few barely visible remains) and at l'Eolière (no trace left).
Documentary films on the industrial and rural past of the Chantonnay area since 1868, made in 2001 by Luc Brusseau: 'De la mine au four et du Four au moulin'. DVD on sale at the Tourist Office.
