Monument record 819/0/11 - Medieval Pottery Kiln, High Street

Medieval pottery kiln, part of the Stanion pottery industry, was recorded during construction work to the west of the High Street in 1979. Excavations found it to be a Musty type 4a parallel-flued kiln which measured 3.4 metres by 2.3 metres. It was cut into the limestone bedrock which formed the kiln walls and had an oval pedestal which survived to a height of 0.6 metres and measured 1.6 metres by 1.16 metres. The pedestal was constructed of limestone blocks with a rubble and earth core. The kiln walls were later re-lined limestone slabs. The walls above the height of the slabs were lined in clay and limestone. Wasters recovered from the kiln included jugs, dishes, bowls and jars. The vessels were either coil built or wheel thrown. Ridge tiles and floor tiles were also produced. The kiln has been identified as belonging to the secondary pahse of production at Stanion as the vessels were in fabrics which had been better prepared and fired to a higher temperature than earlier material. Production took place during the late 13th century and early 14th century.

{1} August 1979: a medieval pottery kiln and pottery sherds were found during levelling of the site for a proposed building on the corner of Cardigan Road and High Street.

{2}The kiln was constructed within a sub oval, vertical sided hole measuring 3.4m x 2.3m and cut 0.6m into the limestone bedrock, the sides forming the kiln walls. The pedestal, which was of oval plan with a slightly flattened north side, this survived to a height of 0.6m and measured 1.6m x 1.16m. The pedestal was constructed of limestone blocks with a rubble and earth core.
The central flue arch support stood to a height of 0.5m, this was 760mm x 550mm in length. The north flue was 0.5m wide and the south 0.55m. Prior to initial firing of the kiln the north wall of the furnace was narrowed by the addition of an extremely neatly laid facing of dry stone walling which reduced the width of the flue by 110mm.
After a period of firings, during which the pedastel and furnace wall stone work gained heat reddening to a depth of 20mm. The lower half of the furnace walls was lined with limestone slabs of 50-60mm thickness laid at an angle. The latest modification was the construction of the flue arch support. The stoke pit was only excavated for a distance of 1.75m from the flue mouth, it appeared to be 4m in diameter.

{3} Summary of the development of the Stanion medieval pottery industry, including mapping of known and probable kiln sites. A kiln was fully excavated by B.Bellamy over a weekend in 1979. The kiln 3.4m long x 1.3m wide, was dug into limestone bedrock. This was then modified by the insertion of drystone walling prior to the first firing, and upright limestone slabs after a period of firings.
Vessles recovered included both coil-built and whell-made jugs, skillets and a range of bowls and jars. In addition there were green-glazed crested ridge tiles and four floor tile fragments.
More details are given, including plans and sections through the kiln.

<1> MOORE W.R.G., 1980, ORAL REPORT TO SMR, (unchecked) (Oral Report). SNN50633.

<2> BELLAMY B., 1983, Medieval Pottery Kilns at Stanion, p.154 (checked) (Article). SNN64907.

<3> Chapman P.; Blinkhorn P.; Chapman A., 2008, A Medieval Potters' Tenement at Corby Road, Stanion, p.219-221 (checked) (Article). SNN106437.

<4> McCarthy, M R, Brooks, C M, 1988, Medieval Pottery in Britain AD 900-1600, p. 285 (Book). SNN76510.

Record last edited

Jul 11 2024 10:13AM