Monument record 7026/1 - Brickworks North of Weekley (Part of Boughton Estate?)

Earthwork remains of a former brickworks were surveyed in 1992. The remains of kilns, a stackyard and quarry pits were identified.

{1} Earthworks representing elements of a former C18th-19th brickmaking industry were surveyed and drawn. A magnetometer survey demonstrated the survival of kilns and stackyards. [NB Source 1 puts ngr at SP88588120.] A track constructed of wasters from the kilns was observed during earthworking operations. [NB Source 1 puts ngr at SP88588120.]

[SMR Note: the brickworks are not marked on 1880s OS mapping. CA 01/02/2007.]


{2} A low mound marks the site of a former brick-kiln. It is c.0.30m high and parts of the original structure are visible in recently collapsed rabbit burrows.
A magnetometer survey was carried out over the possible kiln mound. This demonstrated the survival of kiln structures, possibly more than one, with a great deal of waste material scattered in its locality. Immediately to the west of the mound, a flattened area of 40m x 20m could have formed a yard for use in the preparation of materials and for drying and stacking in connection with brickmaking. A separate spread of rubble may indicate the position of a separate stackyard close to the main road allowing ease of transport of material off-site.

A flat low ridge runs from the eastern side of the kiln site towards the park wall and can be interpreted as a trackway. High magnetic readings from the geophysical survey denote the presence of metalling beneath the raised trackway. This was confirmed by an Anglian water cutting. Spoilt wares from the nearby kilns appeared to ahev been dumped in the area to make up a trackway for access. Finds included black-glazed pottery which had become fused in firing in addition to discarded tiles and bricks. The material probably dates to sometime in the late C18th/early C19th.

Earthworks of a series of former quarries border the southern edge of the field and continue at the east beside the park wall. The individual pits extend up to 50m in length and are c.10m wide x up to 2m deep.

{3} Quarry pits recorded by D.Hall's fieldwork, as part of RFP.

<1> 1993, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter, p.49 (checked) (Newsletter). SNN46125.

<2> DIX B.; MASTERS P.; JONES S., 1992, Kettering Northern Bypass: Earthwork Survey at Boughton Estate Near Weekley, (checked) (Report). SNN43791.

<3> Hall D.N., 1960-1999, Rockingham Forest Project: Archaeological Sites Recorded by David Hall, (checked) (Database). SNN102279.

Record last edited

Jan 6 2022 3:07PM