Monument record 8083/0/1 - Early Roman kilns, Delapre

Eight 1st-2nd century pottery kilns were excavated during flood defence work on the western edge of Delapre Park.

{1} A series of eight late 1st and early 2nd century pottery kilns were found. The pottery found was remarkably standardised but showed a very high level of competence in its throwing and firing.
The material recovered from the kilns suggests that its production followed that of the Hardingstone kilns. As far as could be ascertained from the limited area exposed, the kilns are irregularly placed in a rough line extending from the driveway to the Sse, with their firing positions at all cardinal points. Kiln 5 was half sectioned and the pottery recovered and F1 was completely excavated. The site was later covered with geotextile and backfilled.

Kiln 5 presented an irregular red-fired outline some 1.9m in diameter with an adjacent blackened area to the WSW. Its firing chamber was an open cylinder cut to t total depth of 920mm at which depth it was 850mm in diamter. The sides were hard burnt at the top and less discoloured below. There was no indication whatsoever of a constructional floor nor could the firing arch to the stokehole be precisely defined. A large quantity of burnt clay 'plates' were found, generally irregular ovals c.120mm in diamter by 10-12mm thick. These could have been kiln furniture but but there was no indication of double firing. The low technology of the firing process contrasts dramatically with the competence of the pottery itself.

The eight kilns appear to be confined behind a contemporary north-south ditch running parallel and at a slight angle to the old Northampton Road. There is a suggestion, not explore further due to site constraints, that there was a parallel ditch, much less clearly definable, running parallel to the first on the east side of the kiln row. Excavation of a stretch of the western ditch showed that it was actually two intersecting ditches.

{2} The truncated remains of an undated inhumation was found between the ditch and the kilns. Only the long bones survived. The bones were left in situ.

{3} A possible 3rd century AD coin and several sherds of Roman greyware pottery were found during observation of the new electricity cable trench.

<1> Woodfield, P., 2009, The Delapre Kiln Field, (unchecked) (Draft). SNN106441.

<2> Woodfield, P., 2010, The Delapre Roman Kiln Field, Northampton (Article). SNN107494.

<3> Soden I, 2016, Delapré Abbey Interim Report: Investigation of the line of a new electricity main within the Battlefield of Northampton, at Delapré Abbey, February-March 2016 (Report). SNN110688.

<4> Crank, N. (Editor), 2017, South Midlands Archaeology (47), p. 37 (Journal). SNN111362.

Record last edited

Jul 28 2022 2:23PM