Monument record MLI83030 - Late Medieval tile or brick kiln, Meadow Lane, North Hykeham
Summary
Late Medieval tile or brick kiln, Meadow Lane, North Hykeham
Type and Period (4)
- BRICK KILN (Medieval - 1480 AD to 1530 AD)
- FIELD BOUNDARY (Medieval - 1480 AD to 1530 AD)
- PIT (Medieval - 1480 AD to 1530 AD)
- TILE KILN (Medieval - 1480 AD to 1530 AD)
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
Full Description
PRN 62430
Trial trenching revealed the presence of a 15th to 16th century kiln. Consisting of a circular wall with possibly two internal walls, surviving to 4 courses wide and one course high. Each wall was defined at its end by a rectangular brick pedestal which may have been for a pillar that supported the roof. A pinky burnt clay floor surface was observed that may have been purposely laid or an accumulated residue from repeated firings in the kiln. Almost complete bricks and large amounts of tiles were found just outside the outer wall of the kiln. The kiln was almost certainly producing tiles, and although the bricks may have derived from the kiln structure itself it would not be unusual for the to be producing bricks as well. Other features exposed during the trial trenching may also be associated with the kiln. A large pit was identified which could possibly have been used for turning clay prior to firing. A complex of ditches also contemporary with the kiln were recorded, these have been interpreted as either drainage ditches or perhaps representative of a migrating field boundary. {1}{2}
An archaeological excavation was undertaken on land at Meadow Lane, North Hykeham prior to the construction of 23 dwellings. The investigation involved a strip, map and sample of archaeological deposits within the development site. Post medieval deposits were located to the north of the preserved kiln area. The remains of a kiln floor suface was located towards the eastern side of the site, approximately 18m northeast of the preserved kiln. Close by was a large rectangular pit which may have functioned as an extraction pit. The volume of clay extracted from this pit would have been small, probably in the region of 12 cubic metres of material. The volume of clay extracted and the low level of tile / brick wasters found across the site suggest that tile or brick making was local, small scale and seasonal.{3}{4}
In addition to the work above, the previously discovered post medieval kiln was partially re-excavated in order to obtain a sample for archaeomagnetic dating. Archaeolomagnetic dating of the preserved kiln provided a last firing date of between 1480 and 1530 AD, with a best estimate of 1505 AD. This suggests the kiln was constructed during the late medieval period and, therefore, earlier than the date suggested by the typological analysis provided in the 2002 evaluations.{3}{4}
Sources/Archives (4)
- <1> SLI7893 Report: Pre-Construct Archaeology. 2002. Meadow Lane, North Hykeham. MLNH 02.
- <2> SLI7894 Archive: Pre-Construct Archaeology. 2002. Meadow Lane, North Hykeham. LCNCC:2002.107.
- <3> SLI10464 Report: Archaeological Project Services. Jan 2006. Archaeological Investigation at Meadow Lane, North Hykeham. NHM04.
- <4> SLI10465 Archive: Archaeological Project Services. Jan 2006. Archaeological Investigation at Meadow Lane, North Hykeham. LCNCC 2004.256.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred SK 9472 6549 (40m by 40m) |
|---|---|
| Civil Parish | NORTH HYKEHAM, NORTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE |
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (2)
External Links (0)
Record last edited
Mar 21 2021 8:35PM
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