Monument record 1223/2/9 - Medieval pottery kiln, High Street

Medieval pottery kiln, part of the Potterspury pottery industry, was identified to the southwest of the Old Rectory, Potterspury in 1964. Part of the stoke hole was excavated, most of the structure was built over by a building soon after production had ceased. Production took place during the 14th-15th century. The pottery was of a hard, sandy firing fabric in forms including bowls, cooking pots and dishes.

{2} Finds are located in the British Museum

{3} Results of an excavation carried out in April 1970 by D. Mynard. Archaeomagnetic dating used.

{4} Late 14th century single-flue up-draught kiln with a circular oven and a rectangular stoke-hole. Produced jugs and bowls of buff fabric with olive-green glaze.

Medieval pottery kiln, part of the Potterspury pottery industry, was identified to the southwest of the Old Rectory, Potterspury in 1964. Part of the stoke hole was excavated, most of the structure was built over by a building soon after production had ceased. Production took place during the 14th-15th century. The pottery was of a hard, sandy firing fabric in forms including bowls, cooking pots and dishes.

{5} A single-flue updraught type kiln with a circular oven 2.52m in diameter, and a roughly rectangular stokehole 3.18 by 1.644m increasing to 2.256m wide at the farthest point from the oven. The kiln was constructed of limestone and pebbles lined with clay. It lay in a pit dug through the natural clay to the underlying limestone which formed its floor. The kiln bars were supported by the sides of the kiln and a central pedestal ran from the back. The stoke hole was lined with a drystone wall and showed two periods of use. The products were glazed jugs and bowls of a buff to off white fabric with an olive green glaze, and belong to the late 14th and early 15th century, a date confirmed by archaeomagnetic dating.

<1> BRITISH MUSEUM MEDIEVAL POTTERY REGISTER, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN19361.

<2> British Museum Accession Register, (checked) (Catalogue). SNN10055.

<3> MYNARD D.C., 1972, A Late Medieval Pottery Kiln at Potterspury in Northamptonshire, p. 12-13 (Article). SNN76830.

<4> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.120/Site 11 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<5> 1971, Medieval Archaeology (15), 15/177 (checked) (Journal). SNN4977.

<6> Brown, A.E. (Ed.), 1972, Archaeology in Northamptonshire, 1971 (Medieval), 7/49-51 (checked) (Article). SNN3540.

<7> 2007, Medieval Potters Kiln Unearthed in Front Garden, (unchecked) (Website). SNN109098.

<8> Marchant, J., 1970, Pottery kiln at No. 75 High Street, Potterspury, (checked) (Photographic prints (B&W)). SNN109099.

<9> 1970, Pottery kiln at No. 75 High Street, Potterspury, (checked) (Photographs). SNN109100.

<10> McCarthy, M R, Brooks, C M, 1988, Medieval Pottery in Britain AD 900-1600, P.432 (Book). SNN76510.

Record last edited

Feb 22 2024 2:25PM