Monument record 1221/0/3 - Medieval pottery kilns

Medieval pottery kilns, part of the Potterspury pottery industry, were excavated in 1973 at Yardley Gobion. Two kilns were identified, both were updraught kilns, oval in plan, constructed of limestone and clay lined. The larger of the two kilns measured 2.8 metres by 1.7 metres, the other 1.6 metres by 1.0 metres. Both were served by a single stoke hole which was rectangular in plan and measured 4.7 metres by 2.2 metres. The pottery comprised jugs, cisterns and bowls in a fine sandy firing fabric. Some of the forms had a red-brown or green glaze. Ridge tiles were also produced. The kilns were in use circa 1400.

{1} Two oval kilns similar to the kiln excavated at Potterspury (SN:1233/0/1 or 2). Both kilns were of updraught type with a pedestal running out from the back. The kilns were oval in shape, well-built in limestone and partly clay-lined but about a third of the larger kiln had been destroyed. The larger kiln was 2.8m long and would have been 1.7m wide. The flue-arch, made of clay tiles, was still mainly in situ. The small kiln was 1.6m long and 1.0m wide. The roughly rectangular stokehole, about 4.7m long and 2.2m wide, served both kilns and was partly walled. The pottery mainly comprised jugs with slashed handles, plain ridge-tiles, cisterns and bowls. More infrequent were lids and an unusual type of costrel.

{2} Site notes, sections and day book

{3} 2 kilns, both of updraught type, oval in shape and constructed of limestone, with 14th century wares of Potterspury type.

<1> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1974, Archaeology In Northamptonshire 1973, 9/112 (unchecked) (Article). SNN9109.

<2> SITE RECORDS, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN19393.

<3> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.176/Site 6 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77382.

<4> MCCARTHY M.R.; BROOKS C.M., 1988, MEDIEVAL POTTERY IN BRITAIN AD 900-1600, p. 432 (Book). SNN76510.

Record last edited

Apr 6 2022 1:22PM