Monument record 112/0/19 - Tile Kiln, Potters Lyveden (Site E)

Excavations took place of Site E during 1968 and 1969. The site was discovered during field walking and the presence of large quantities of glazed ridge tiles. Excavations found a Musty type 1b kiln orientated north-south with the stoke pit to the south. The only surviving features comprised the oven pit, pedestal and stoke pit. The oven pit had been placed within a depression and contained a rectangular pedestal which was constructed of limestone blocks and rubble

{1} Excavation at northern limit of occupation & site making use of Harley Way; deep ploughing found to have destroyed medieval ground surface & only sunken features survived; area of heavy burning revealed tile kiln; kiln orientated c.north-south with stokepit at south end; survival limited to oven pit & pedestal & stoke pit which were all cut into underlying clay; stokepit filled with limestone rubble which overlay ash & charcoal layers; stokepit found to be 14ft long & narrow channel was cut into length of its base; kiln flue was 2ft 6ins wide & 2ft long & was floored with carefully laid limestone flags; flue arch foundations were still largely intact; oven pit oval-shaped & sides were stone-lined; opening to rear of kiln found; rectangular form of pedestal survived despite robbing; above ash layers in flues were large numbers of wasted tiles & pieces of baked clay; kiln surrounds were largely featureless; 2ft wide x 1ft deep gully separated stokepit from another pit named 'ash pit'; latter was traced for 16ft before interupted by modern field drain; pit was full of ash & included large number of jug handles; towards bottom of pit large glazed pitcher found.

<1> BRYANT G.F.; STEANE J.M., 1971, Excavations at the Deserted Medieval Settlement at Lyveden, 42-47 (unchecked) (Interim Report). SNN43518.

<2> STEANE J.M., 1967, EXCAVATIONS AT LYVEDEN: 1965-1967 (Interim Report). SNN48569.

<3> McCarthy, M R, Brooks, C M, 1988, Medieval Pottery in Britain AD 900-1600, p. 431 (Book). SNN76510.

Record last edited

Jun 26 2024 9:04AM