Monument record MCC7589 - NW of Layer Mill Mushroom farm

Summary

C17 tile kiln, partially excavated by CAG in 1959.

Location

Grid reference Centred TL 960 211 (401m by 250m)
Map sheet TL92SE
Civil Parish LAYER-DE-LA-HAYE, COLCHESTER, ESSEX

Map

Type and Period (2)

Full Description

C17 tile kiln, partially excavated by CAG in 1959. The field name on the 1838 tithe map is `Kiln Grove Field'. There is also documentary evidence for the site from the Court Rolls "Rental 1638 in which one DOR paid an annual quit rent of 9d for Tile Kiln". K deBrisay considered the correct NGR to be as above, not TL 968209 as stated in source 2. <1> Excavation in 1959 of a kiln site near the right bank of the Roman River to the south of Olivers Farm. The land here is of heavy clay and although a scatter of tile had been noticed during cultivation for some years it was not until a heavier pough was used that the existence of a structure was realised. The kiln was built of red brick, the entire centre buried beneath brick and tile rubble mixed with clay. The fire arch still had two decorative bricks in position on the top. No traces of pottery were found but from the innumerable fragments of tile ir appears that the kiln was used solely for the manufacture of tiles. There was insufficient time to excavate the site fully and no definitely dateable material was found. From the size and substaance of the bricks in the wall and the fire erch it would seem that the kiln was built during or after Tudor times. The adjoining field is shown on the tithe map as `cottage and garden' and it contains a considerable concentration of broken tile and tile dust in an area 50 x 20 yards - it may have been where the tiles were stacked awaiting transport. It is also possible that there was at least one other kiln in this field. The kiln in Kiln Grove Field was in use in 1638 (Court Rolls) but had disappeared by 1838. <2> Other ref. <3>

Sources/Archives (3)

  • <1> DESC TEXT: unknown. 1960 0nwards. SMR form unknown.
  • <2> EXCAV REPORT: unknown. 1959. Kiln at Roman River. Vol 2, p17-21.
  • <3> DESC TEXT: unknown. 1638. Rental 1638. D-DR-M.26.

Finds (2)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (1)

Record last edited

Nov 3 2015 11:41AM

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