Monument record 130/17 - Possible site of blacksmiths workshop

A mid-19th century blacksmiths ledger was found in a building during demolition. A brick-lined pit and stone-lined well were located towards the plot frontage.

{1} A hand-written ledger covering a period of just over three months in 1852 was found by demolition workers in the loft of one of the 19th century buildings being pulled down to make way for new development. The entries list the time taken, in hours, to carry out various tasks in a blacksmith's workshop. Four blacksmiths are listed in the town for this period. The names in the ledger, probably Jonathon and James Ebbsworth and James Hull, are presumably those of the workshop employees. They worked six days a week, eleven hours a day.

During archaeological excavation a brick-lined pit was found which largely lay outside the excavated area. In section it was c 1.8m wide and 0.8m deep, was constructed from unfrogged bricks weakly bonded with lime mortar and was filled with ash and coke. There was no evidence of heat damage to the bricks, so it was unlikely to have been a blacksmiths hearth or forge, but it may have been used in a blacksmith's workshop.

The well was situated to the rear of the demolished building beneath the former yard surface. It was 0.90m in diameter and was constructed from limestone rubble. It was probably contemporary with the recently demolished 19th century building, which may have been a blacksmith's workshop, and was probably backfilled when the yard was concreted over.

<1> Carlyle S., 2007, Excavation of Medieval and Later Features at College Place, Brackley, Northamptonshire, March 2007, p. 17 (Report). SNN105986.

<1> Carlyle S., 2007, Excavation of Medieval and Later Features at College Place, Brackley, Northamptonshire, March 2007, p. 9-10 (Report). SNN105986.

Record last edited

Jun 18 2021 9:32AM