Monument record 819/2/4 - Medieval Pottery Kiln(s), 14 Corby Road

Medieval kiln complex, part of the Stanion pottery industry, was identified during construction work at 14 Corby Road in 1972. Extensive deposits of pottery wasters and other kiln debris were noted. The pottery had a date range spanning from the mid 12th century until the mid 14th century, ranging from very crude handmade vessels to fine wheel-thrown wares which were fired to a very high temperature. These may have represented at least two kilns. Only part of one kiln was recorded and comprised a stoke hole and flue, very little detail of the rest of the structure survived due to damage caused by the construction work. Vessels recovered from the kiln comprised wheel-thrown jugs, cisterns, dishes and jars in hard well-fired fabrics. Production probably took place circa 1450-1550. Roof tiles were also products of this kiln. The finds are present in Northampton Museum.

{1} Remains of kilns revealed when house extensions were undertaken. Large quantities of pottery including complete wasters almost identical to Lyveden ware were recovered. Six types of vessel in several fabrics were identified including some vessels which had been pierced through.

Excavations in 1972 uncovered wall foundations, medieval pottery kilns and 4CWT of medieval pot sherds including jugs, some with Latin inscriptions, roof tiles and glazed and crested ridge tiles. Found on the site of houses being built on an orchard plot was an extensive kiln complex covering six different styles of pottery. All finds, notes and sketches are with Northampton Museum.

{2} J.R. Fox recovered pottery from the stone-lined flue and stoke hole of a kiln. The pottery is a fine, orange sandy ware, and glazed and crested ridge tiles and flat roof tiles were also produced. Near by many wasters of crude coil-made jugs in a coarse limestone-tempered fabric were found. There was no dating evidence.

{3} Excavations in 1972 uncovered wall foundations, medieval pottery kilns and 4CWT of medieval pot sherds including jugs, some with Latin inscriptions, roof tiles and glazed and crested ridge tiles. Found on the site of houses being built on an orchard plot was an extensive kiln complex covering six different styles of pottery. All finds, notes and sketches are with Northampton Museum.
Every trench cut into kiln ash and pot bank, and subsequent earth-moving had scattered much of the material. It was however still possible to demonstrate that this was an extensive kiln complex covering at least six distinctive types of pottery, including wares remarkably like those of the Lyveden kilns only 4.5 miles to the east. The material ranged from very crude hand-made to fine wheel-thrown wares, fired to a high temperature (and not out of place in a post-medieval group).
Part of a kiln stoke hole and flue was quickly excavated, of which four courses of stone survived, however at least half of the feature had been destroyed by the new foundation trenches.
More detail is given.

{5} A stone-lined kiln was excavated in 1972. It contained pottery, wasters, glazed and crested ridge tiles and flat roof tiles. In the surrounding area many wasters of crude coil-made jugs were discovered.

{6} Summary of Fox's work in 1972.

{7} A report on the later aspects of the pottery.

Description from record 819/0/5:
{1} Remains of kilns revealed when house extensions were undertaken. Large quantities of pottery including complete wasters almost identical to Lyveden ware were recovered. Six types of vessel in several fabrics were identified including some vessels which had been pierced through.
[NB. Location is inaccurate; probably the same site as HER ref. 819/2/4.]

<1> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1974, Archaeology In Northamptonshire 1973, 9/p.110 (checked) (Article). SNN9109.

<2> 1973, Medieval Archaeology (17), 17/p.185 (checked) (Journal). SNN35139.

<3> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1975, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1974, 10/p.170-171 (checked) (Report). SNN41605.

<4> 1975, PLANS; MISC., (unchecked) (Plan). SNN57364.

<5> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.135 Site 10c (checked) (Series). SNN77380.

<6> Chapman P.; Blinkhorn P.; Chapman A., 2008, A Medieval Potters' Tenement at Corby Road, Stanion, p.219-20 (checked) (Article). SNN106437.

<7> BELLAMY B., 1983, Medieval Pottery Kilns at Stanion, p. 159-161 (Article). SNN64907.

<8> McCarthy, M R, Brooks, C M, 1988, Medieval Pottery in Britain AD 900-1600, p. 285, 430 (Book). SNN76510.

Record last edited

Jul 11 2024 10:13AM