Monument record 130/0/317 - Probable 17th century clay tobacco-pipe kiln, Market Place

A small group of clay tobacco-pipe wasters reused in a pipe kiln muffle indicate the presence of a pipe kiln nearby

{1} A small group of 12 clay tobacco-pipe fragments were recovered from levelling deposits; while the fragments display little signs of abrasion, they have patches of mortar adhering to them which suggests that they probably represent the remains of a pipe kiln muffle. A muffle is a 'large refractory pot set inside a firing chamber forming an inner chamber to contain the pipes firing free from direct contact with the flame.' These pipes would have been embedded into a clay matrix and used to reinforce the structure of the muffle.
The pipe bowl dates to c1640-60. The find is significant since, apart from a small amount of material originating from 26 High Street, there has been no industrial evidence from the town. The earliest recorded pipemaker in Brackley was Edward Phillips in the early 18th century.

<1> Sharman T., 2014, Archaeological observation, investigation, recording and analysis of land at 38 Market Place, Brackley, Northamptonshire, July 2014, p.11 (Report). SNN110046.

<2> Chapman, P., 2015, Clay tobacco-pipe manufacturing in Brackley, p. 228 (Article). SNN110571.

<3> Horne, B (editor), 2015, South Midlands Archaeology (45), p. 39 (Journal). SNN111358.

Record last edited

Jan 29 2019 11:07AM