Monument record 94/1/4 - Medieval Kitchen/Workshop Range

{1} Excavation plan on p.20. A kitchen extension was found to the south of the previous season's work. Robber trenches were found on all four sides of the kitchen, leaving two stub walls projecting into the room between two intact ovens sited in the south-west and south-east corners of the room. At the north end of the room are a large open hearth some 6ft square and a small triangular structure, stone-lined, and with a pitched stone floor.
An extension to the kitchen wall was found running in a north-west direction, and was partly robbed. Near to this was a well-constructed large circular kiln or oven some 11ft in diameter and 3ft 6ins deep, with a barrel-vaulted vent on its north-east side. It was first thought that this was a lime kiln but there is a virtual absence of lime in the vicinity. No dateable evidence was found for this feature.

{2} On the north side of the cross-wing a service building was attached approx 5m square internally. Its function was either a workshop or kitchen?

{3} Foundations of kitchen ranges were excavated. These contained kilns, ovens and hearths, including a possible pottery kiln, a corn-drying oven and a large circular kiln with the appearance of a lime kiln. No other evidence was recovered to substantiate these functions.

{4} A pitched stone hearth with associated iron slag and evidence for the cooking of salt water mussels and oysters (this area seems to be the kitchen and workshop range).

{5} Work resumed in Room 1 in 1971 and two notable features, a kiln and an oven, were found.
The kiln looked very much like a pottery kiln, oval in shape and with the remains of a central stone pedestal. The limestone walls of the kiln and the western wall of the room onto which it backed were much reddened. The only evidence for the use of the kiln was a quantity of lead, some 5lbs in weight.
The walls of the rectangular oven were not reddened, only the cheek stones of the stoke hole were slightly burnt. There was some evidence of reconstruction work. Nothing was found within to indicate its use, but its shape suggests that of a corn-drying oven.
A further pitched-stone hearth was found, edged on three sides by a limestone kerb. The fourth side abutted a north-south running wall on a similar alignment to Room 1. The wall had been robbed.

{6} Excavation continued on the kitchen range. A C14th kitchen extension was revealed to the south of the earlier ranges. The extension was represented by robber trenches on all four sides. However two ovens found within the south-west and south-east corners of the kitchen were found intact. There was also a large open hearth c.6ft square, and a small triangular feature, stone-lined and with a pitched stone floor, located at the north end of the room.

{7} An extension wall to the C14th kitchen was revealed in 1973, partly robbed. Also revealed was a well-constructed large circular kiln or oven, some 11ft in diameter X 3ft deep, and with a barrel-vaulted vent on its north-east side. It was at first thought to be a lime kiln, but there was no evidence of lime in the immediate area.

{8} Excavation in 1974 concentrated on the west part of the C14th kitchen range. Further walls were revealed but no coherent plan form has as yet been interpretable.

{9} The more important features found were a pitched stone hearth with associated iron slag and evidence for the cooking of salt water mussels and oysters. The area seems to be a kitchen and workshop range. Site plan.

{10} Several walls and a hearth were found. An oval kiln and an oven, both of mid C13th date, lay inside the stone buildings. The kiln had a central stone pedestal; the only evidence for its function was the discovery of 5lbs of lead within. The oven was rectangular and may have been used for corn drying.

{11} Excavation in 1974 concentrated on the west part of the C14th kitchen range. Further walls were revealed but no coherent plan form has as yet been interpretable.

{12} The main activity on the site took place during the C13th and C14th. Room D contained two ovens, the oval example containing the remains of a central pedestal. Apart from charcoal all that was found here was 5lbs of lead, the structure being heavily burnt. The west side of the oven utilised the west wall of Room D reducing the limestone to powder. The second oven was rectangular and little burnt. Its floor utilised the stone-lined drain which passed underneath at this point. A few charred grains of wheat were found within the charcoal.
A fine C14th kitchen was added to the north side of the hall. This contained two ovens located in the south-east and south-west corners. An open hearth was set against the west wall. Adjacent to the north wall was a triangular feature, edged with upright limestone slabs and filled with pitched limestone.

<1> Taylor R.M., 1974, Anglo-Saxon: Quinton, Northamptonshire, Moated Manor, p.19-20 (checked) (Interim Report). SNN27946.

<2> Woodfield P., 1981, The Larger Medieval Houses of Northamptonshire, p.155 (part checked) (Article). SNN23550.

<3> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.122-3 Site 6 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<4> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1971, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1970, p.34 (checked) (Journal). SNN100525.

<5> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1972, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1971, p.51-2 (checked) (Journal). SNN59984.

<6> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1973, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1972, p.23 (checked) (Journal). SNN77428.

<7> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1974, Archaeology In Northamptonshire 1973, p.109 (checked) (Article). SNN9109.

<8> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1975, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1974, p.169-70 (checked) (Report). SNN41605.

<9> 1971, Medieval Archaeology (15), p.164-5 (checked) (Journal). SNN4977.

<10> Webster L.E.; Cherry J. (Editors), 1972, Medieval Britain in 1971, p.195 (checked) (Notes). SNN5249.

<11> Taylor R.M., 1975, Anglo-Saxon: Quinton Moated Manor, Northamptonshire, p.21 (checked) (Interim Note). SNN27947.

<12> Friendship-Taylor R.M., 1976, Quinton: The Moated Manor, p.21-2 (checked) (Interim Report). SNN27951.

Record last edited

Oct 4 2013 4:18PM