Monument record MLI81247 - Roman Tile Kiln, Car Dyke, Heighington

Summary

A Roman tile kiln, in a field to the west of the Car Dyke, Heighington.

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Full Description

Evidence of a Roman tile kiln was first noted in 1941, after deep ploughing produced a tile scatter which was interpreted as an occupation site. The exact location of the kiln was determined by gradiometer survey. Because of the percieved threat of damage to the structure through ploughing the site was excavated jointly by Lincoln Archaeological Trust and SLHA in 1976. The kiln was dug into the clay subsoil and was rectangular in shape, being built of rectangular tiles. It measured 5.4m by 7.1m. It contained six cross flues at right angles to the main flue which faced north-north-west. Pottery found in the topsoil and in the demolition debris indicates a 4th century date. Similar examples have been excavated at Arbury, Warwickshire (1965) and Park Street, near St Albans (Publ. 1970). There is evidence to suggest it was of unusual construction using quantities of 'green' tiles and wasters. The kiln had survived relatively complete although there were signs of collapse and subsequent repair. The kiln had been backfilled with broken tiles and clay. The products of the kiln include the two standard types of roofing tile (tegulae and imbrices) in addition to combed flue tiles, voussoir box tiles, hypocaust tiles and bonding tiles, some of which are rectangular. Fragments of quarter round tiles also occurred, possible further examples of which came from a residual context at St Marks (1976) and St Paul in the Bail (1979). A fragment of roof finial of a type previously unknown in Britain and paralleled on the Danube was found in the stoke-hole of the kiln, which also contained an unusual phallic object which appears to have been a mould for bronze casting which was never used. The kiln was therefore producing tiles for sophisticated buildings, and if the phallic objects was related to bronze casting, the building itself may have lain in the immediate area. The tiles may also have been intended for buildings in Lincoln, and the Car Dyke may have had a role in transporting them there (even though its primary function was as a catchwater drain). A possible clay pit in the field was filled in by the farmer in the early 1970s, but a more likely hollow was revealed by contour survey adjacent to the kiln. A further tile kiln scatter in ashy soil immediately adjacent to the Car Dyke, shown clearly by an aerial photograph taken during the excavation, was surveyed, but no trace of a further kiln was found. {1}{2}{3}{4}{5} Two dark soil marks were visible in the area when viewed on Google Maps in February 2011. {6}

Sources/Archives (6)

  •  Article in Serial: Jones, M.J. (ed.). 1981. Antiquaries Journal. vol.LXI, part.1, pp.110-4.
  •  Article in Serial: A.J. White (ed.). 1977. 'Archaeology in Lincolnshire and South Humberside, 1976' in Lincolnshire History and Archaeology. vol.12, p.74.
  •  Article in Serial: Darling, M. and Wood, K.. 1976. Lincoln Archaeological Trust 4th Annual Report. pp.22-3.
  •  Article in Serial: Darling, M.. 1977. Lincoln Archaeological Trust 5th Annual Report. p.12.
  •  Photograph: Heighington Tile kiln. P7/76/21-3.
  •  Website: Google. 2006->. Google Maps and Street View. www.google.co.uk/maps. As seen on Google Maps 01/02/2011.

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Location

Grid reference Centred TF 053 696 (282m by 201m) Estimated from sources
Civil Parish HEIGHINGTON, NORTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE

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Related Events/Activities (3)

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Record last edited

Mar 21 2021 8:35PM

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