Monument record 819/2/3 - Medieval pottery kiln, 17 Little Lane

A rescue excavation undertaken in 1990 identified a medieval parallel-flue pottery kiln on the southern property boundary, so that only the northern half could be excavated. The finds included three small whistle pots in a sandy orange-pink fabric. These were produced during the 15th century.

{1} Rescue excavation by G.Cadman between Jan-Feb 1980; C14th and C15th pottery kiln. The north side was exposed and recorded including the flue and pedestal and a possible stoke hole. The kiln underlay an east-west running ditch. All features contained frequent medieval pottery including three small ceramic 'whistle pots'. The assemblage was provisionally dated to the C14th to early C16th. There were also three north-south aligned linear features, possibly boundaries, and at least four postholes. All features contained frequent medieval pottery including three small ceramic 'whistle pots'. The assemblage was provisionally dated to the C14th to early C16th.

{3} Watching brief by G.Cadman. Led to excavation of the northern half of a pottery kiln with a single central pedestal. The considerable amount of pottery which was recovered appears to result either from two distinct phases of production or originates partly from a separate nearby source. The finds include three rare, small 'whistle pots' in a sandy orange-pink fabric probably dating to about the C15th. Illustration.

{5} Report by G. Cadman. Watching brief in January 1990 led to the discovery of several features including a medieval pottery kiln straddling the southern boundary of the modern property. The northern half of the kiln was excavated to reveal a single central pedestal. A considerable amount of pottery was recovered from the site. This appears to betoken two distinct phases of production or, alternatively and perhaps more likely, originates in part from a separate nearby source. Of considerable interest was the finding of three rare, small 'whistle pots' in a sandy orange-pink fabric and probably dating to about the C15th. A detailed report is in preparation. Illustration.

{6} Detailed description of the pottery 'bird whistles' given. Comparison with Bellamy's Corby Road kiln and other kilns excavated at Lyveden lead to the Little Lane kiln and its products being assigned a tentative date in the first half of the C15th.

{8} Summary of the development of the Stanion medieval pottery industry, including mapping of known and probable kiln sites.
The kiln lay at the western end of the site against the southern property boundary and only the northern half of the kiln could be excavated. This proved to be a parallel-flue kiln built within a construction pit, similar to that excavated by Bellamy in 1979. The kiln chamber, 2.5m long, was lined with sough courses of limestone walling which at the western end was 0.95m high. The lining continued eastwards into the stoke pit. The pedestal was 1.2m long, with a rubble and clay core faced with coursed limestone similar to the chamber lining. The flue was between 0.4m and 0.5m wide. Plan and photographs.

{9} Regular row of tenements fronting onto Little Lane, possibly created as a planned expansion of the village by the Upper Hall manor to accommodate additional potters' tenements as the industry expanded.

<1> Cadman G.E., 1990, SMR Report Form, (checked) (SMR Report Form). SNN50223.

<2> Dix B., 1992, Recent Work in Northamptonshire Archaeology, P124 (Checked) (Article). SNN104441.

<3> The Society For Medieval Archaeology, 1991, Medieval Archaeology (35), p.180-181 (checked) (Journal). SNN3871.

<4> BLINKHORN P., 1990, Assessment of Pottery From a Kiln at 17 Little Lane, Stanion: The Excavated Pottery, (unchecked) (Typescript Report). SNN56950.

<5> Pike A. (Editor), 1991, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (21), p.71-72 (checked) (Newsletter). SNN2091.

<6> Blinkhorn P.; Hurst J.G., 1991, Three Pottery Bird Whistles From Stanion, Northamptonshire, p.21-23 (part checked) (Article). SNN56951.

<8> Chapman P.; Blinkhorn P.; Chapman A., 2008, A Medieval Potters' Tenement at Corby Road, Stanion, p.219-226 (checked) (Article). SNN106437.

<9> FOARD G., 1991, The Medieval Pottery Industry of Rockingham Forest, Northamptonshire, p.13-20 (unchecked) (Article). SNN104990.

<10> McCarthy, M R, Brooks, C M, 1988, Medieval Pottery in Britain AD 900-1600, p. 285 (Book). SNN76510.

Record last edited

Jul 11 2024 10:14AM