Monument record 1223/7/3 - Post medieval pottery kiln, 28 High Street

A large single-flued kiln of later 17th-century date was excavated during an archaeological watching brief. Next to the kiln was a substantial stone wall which may have been part of an associated building. The kiln was incorporated into a large dump of medieval and post-medieval pottery.

{1} An extensive spread of seventeenth century wasters. This great dump of pottery was up to 1m thick and spread over c.250 square metres. Two stone spreads were seen with the wasters, possibly indicating a yard or a road. Underneath the post medieval wasters were large clay filled features containing only medieval pottery, perhaps indicating abandoned clay pits. The waster dump incorporated a large, oval single-flued kiln of later seventeenth century date. The kiln was fully excavated but its stoke-pit lay to the south below the spoil heap and was therefore inaccessible; the stoke-pit was subsequently largely destroyed by a soakaway.

Along the east side of kiln a substantial stone wall was revealed. This may have been part of an associated structure or some earlier building. This wall was sealed by the same strata as the kiln so cannot be later than it. A stone-revetted ash-filled pit was also excavated and this was cut by the kiln structure and may have been associated with the stone wall.

{2} During the excavation of a large pit at the upper NW corner of the site, a bronze object was recovered. The object formed from copper alloy, of cut bronze sheet 1.5mm thick, and was rolled to form the shape of a human arm and hand. At the upper end it terminated in a flange with one straight edge, and perforated with a 3.2mm diameter drilled hole. The hand is open with spread fingers formed by cuts in the end of the metal, and the fingers are properly graduated in length. Near the centre of the palm a further perforation 2mm in diameter, drilled from the front, forms a burr at the back.

Notwithstanding the crude construction some care had been taken to achieve a realistic modelling of the arm muscles, narrowing at the elbow, including pinching in of the tube towardsthe wrist causing a slight overlap in the meeting edges of the metal. There had been no attempt to finish the back, the hollow tubing being left open at the wrist.

The arm is clearly part of a larger figure, and has been mounted by a nail passing through the hand. It was intended only to be viewed from the front. The underside of the arm and the hand suggest that it is the right arm of Christ from a crucifixion. The crude form suggests that the figure is for personal worship and possibly can be dated to the pre Reformation period.

<1> Ivens. R., 2000, 28 High Street, Potterspury, (unchecked) (SMR Report Form). SNN101379.

<2> Woodfield C.; Woodfield P., 2000-01, A Probable Pre- Reformation Find from Potterspury, p. 207-208 (Article). SNN103960.

Record last edited

May 11 2021 2:10PM