Monument record MCC7179 - Possible Roman tile kiln, Elms Farm, Mount Bures

Summary

Fragments of Roman roof tile found in 1955, covering a small area on low ground at a point almost on a straight line between this farm and Mount Bures Hall, exactly half way between the farm and the railway. An excavation in 1971 suggested the fragmentary remains of a possible tile kiln.

Location

Grid reference Centred TL 9108 3215 (129m by 125m)
Map sheet TL93SW
Civil Parish MOUNT BURES, COLCHESTER, ESSEX

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

Fragments of roof tile found in 1955, covering a small area on low ground at a point almost on a straight line between this farm and Mount Bures Hall, exactly half way between the farm and the railway. One fragment of tile was a waster and, since there are no traces of mortar or pottery, it was suggested this was possibly the site of a tile kiln.<1>
In 1971, Dr Tite of Essex University carried out a proton magnetometer survey of the site, purporting a structure. This was excavated and shown to be a kiln but was "so incomplete that its purpose can only be conjectural". It was made of tiles, mainly tegulae, of C2 date. There was a tile-lined flue built into the bottom. At either end of the flue were 4 `piers' of masonry of varying heights. The stoke pit was at the south end. An `apsidal' projecting end to the flue may have been to provide a chimney for a forced draught. The possible form of the kiln originally is discussed in this source. Examples of four different types of tile were found on the site - tegulae, imbrex, flat building brick type and box-shaped flue tile. It is not sure which were kiln products but all were probably. Pottery was also found in the excavation.<2><3> Other ref. <4>
Reasons for a 2nd century date are not clear. It is most unlikely that the flue formed part of a conventional tile kiln, although in the absence of any superstructure even this is uncertain. "Perhaps it is to be associated with a drying shed for either pottery or tiles.<5>

Sources/Archives (6)

  • --- DESC TEXT: Rodwell, Warwick J. 1982. Prod.n and Distrib.n of Pottery and Tile in the Territory of the Trinovantes.
  • <1> DESC TEXT: Powell, WR. 1963. Victoria County History, Essex, Vol III (VCH). Vol 3, p.60.
  • <2> EXCAV REPORT: Holbert, P. unknown. A Romano-British Tile Kiln at Mount Bures, Essex. Vol 15, pp.19-22.
  • <3> RECORD SHEET/FORM: Ordnance Survey. unknown. OS cards. TL93SW08, 1975.
  • <4> MENTION: Bohannon, K?. unknown. SMR.
  • <5> DESC TEXT: McWhirr, A. unknown. Roman brick and tile. No ?, p.131, extract in SMR.

Finds (2)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (3)

Record last edited

Apr 24 2017 3:30PM

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