Monument record 3340/5 - C13/14th Pottery Manufacturing

Medieval pottery kiln, possibly part of the Potterspury pottery industry, was identified during construction work at 21 Northampton Road in 1979. Excavations found the kiln to be rectangular in plan, measuring 1.83 metres by 0.67 metres and constructed of limestone. Three phases of rebuilding were identified, these involved the lengthening of the side walls to create an enclosed rather than an open firing chamber, and the rebuilding of the terminal wall to improve firing qualities at the rear of the kiln. Much of the stone work had also been replaced due to the effects of repeated firings. There was no evidence of a central pedestal but the oven floor was raised and had been formed from semi-circular bars which spanned the width of the oven pit. The pottery was of a range of fine shelly fabrics, wheel-thrown and fired in an oxidising atmosphere. Forms included bowls, jugs and cooking pots. Production took place during the late 13th century-early 14th century. The excavations also located a waster tip, possible workshops and yards. Subsequent investigation to the east undertaken in 2013 found evidence of a 13th-century building which was probably an associated workshop.

{5} Salvage excavation of a medieval pottery kiln. In the area of the garage driveway was a series of features that probably relate to a pottery dump, the majority of which were wasters and a possible simple structure. The kiln lay to the east of this area. The kiln structure probably has three major construction phases with intervening sequences of use and disuse leading finally to abandonment, all in a relatively short period of time. The kiln was built into a pit c.1.83m x 0.86m, and tapering to 0.67m. It was constructed from a line of pitched burned stones set in a clean light grey-green clay. It remained throughout (with minor alterations), a simple, stone built, rectangular kiln with a single flue. Pottery recovered included wasters dated 1200-1400 AD. [More…]

{6} Archaeological investigation took place about 20m east of a medieval kiln which was excavated in 1979. During the recent work, structural evidence in the form of a series of post holes and post settings and a suspected sill beam trench were investigated. The features, broadly dated by pottery to the 13th century, were probably part of the pottery production site.

The medieval post holes and post settings possibly belonged to the same structure. Four of them were aligned roughly north-east to south-west over a distance of about 2.9m. It is probable that not all of the ground plan of the structure was revealed, but lay beyond the baulk to the west, and possibly beneath the non-reduced part of the garden to the south.
The sill/sleeper beam trench was positioned at right angles to the line of postholes and post settings. It was only partially exposed by the groundwork (to at least 1.8m in length). It was about 0.3m in depth and was wider at the top of the trench (0.44m) than the base (0.2m). Soil samples were taken from a posthole and from the sill beam trench. A small number of charcoal fragments form the trench are thought to be debris from local domestic hearths or possibly from a kiln flue. The mollusc remains from the same sample indicate damp grassland in the immediate area.

Alongside the former conservatory at the rear of the existing building a brick-lined well was exposed of probable 19th/20th century date.

<1> Hall D. (Editor), 1980, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter (10), 10/33 (checked) (Journal). SNN22466.

<1> Wilson M., 2013, Archaeological Observation, Investigation and Recording at 21 Northampton Road, Yardley Hastings, Northamptonshire, 2013, p.11 (checked) (Report). SNN109333.

<2> Brown A.E. (ed.), 1980, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1979, 15/173 (checked) (Article). SNN56490.

<3> BROWN K., 1979, Excavations at Yardley Hastings, April 1979: A Summary, (unchecked) (Report). SNN55176.

<4> BROWN K., 1979, The Excavation of a Medieval Pottery Kiln at Yardley Hastings: Level IV Report, (checked) (Unpublished Report). SNN57313.

<5> BROWN K., 1993, A Medieval Pottery Kiln at Yardley Hastings in Northamptonshire, 25/159-175 (checked) (Article). SNN40358.

<6> Wilson M., 2013, Archaeological Observation, Investigation and Recording at 21 Northampton Road, Yardley Hastings, Northamptonshire, 2013, (unchecked) (Report). SNN109333.

<7> McCarthy, M R, Brooks, C M, 1988, Medieval Pottery in Britain AD 900-1600, p. 432 (Book). SNN76510.

Record last edited

Feb 5 2025 7:18PM