Monument record MCC2453 - Roman kiln?, Mill Place, Colchester

Summary

Roman kiln?, Mill Place, Butt Road, recorded in the mid 19th century.

Location

Grid reference TL 99260 24763 (point)
Map sheet TL92SE
County ESSEX
Non Parish Area COLCHESTER, COLCHESTER, ESSEX

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

In the mid-nineteenth century a row of houses stood north of Butt Mill and facing east to Butt Road. They were known as 'Mill Place' and the field behind them was worked for many years as a sand pit. Being on a rich Roman burial ground the works received great attention from William Wire. On 7th November 1843 he writes, 'About two years since a place about three feet square and about two feet deep was discovered in the above field, filled with fragments of Roman amphorae and mortaria of white earth. The construction of it I do not remember now, not taking sufficient notice of it at the time'. This may or may not be identical with the following: In Wire's County Illustrations there are two manuscript plans of finds made at Mill Place and in the field west of it, and on one of these plans is marked 'Kiln made of old materials, full of fragments'. There seems to be no mention of this in his text. The same plan has a mark under the middle of the front fence of Mill Place, on the west margin of Butt Road, against which is written 'circular cist nearly full of urns, most of which were broken by the workmen when taking down the bank'. The other plan adds - 'all broken but two'. It seems at least one Roman kiln stood here, a possibly several.<1>

Sources/Archives (1)

  • <1> Monograph: Hull, M. Rex. 1963. The Roman Potters Kilns of Colchester. XXI. pp.2-3.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (1)

Record last edited

Jan 24 2017 2:19PM

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