The invention relates to a shaft preheater for preheating material in lump form with at least one shaft for receiving the material, a bridge disposed in the shaft for delivering hot gases which flow through the material from the bottom upwards, and a device for filling the shaft with the material such that the shaft is charged centrally thereby developing a filling cone. The bridge is disposed at an inclination corresponding to the filling cone in order to guarantee an even flow through the fill. The device for filling the shaft comprises a vertically adjustable feed chute.