NHER 15702 (Monument record) - Post medieval lime kiln and Roman coin

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Summary

A post medieval lime kiln, engine house, and an unusual domed structure, buried underground. The exact purpose of the domed chamber is unknown, it may have been used for storing lime. A Roman coin was found on the site in 1985.

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Location

Map sheet TF72NW
Civil Parish FLITCHAM WITH APPLETON, WEST NORFOLK, NORFOLK

Map

Limeworks.
Lime kiln in side of pit, of brick on a chalk base, this latter appears to be artificial and to be cemeted together with flints. Lime sluices in wide recesses. Tulieres rise direct from roof of passage and are wide and oval. Nearby a brick engine house of some sort of more recent date. On further side of pit a huge buried brick dome. The walls are of normal
brickwork but abruptly change to end on bricks for the dome. Simple doorway in exposed section of side wall; niches each side on interior. Hole in centre of dome, and two shafts or tulieres rising from rear. Floor partly of brick. Buttresses each side of door on exterior. Certainly not a conventional lime kiln, but neither an icehouse as no tunnel, and shafts rule this out.
It is said there was formerly some sort of metal construction under the central shaft and that this may have been some other type of kiln but this is dubious. Piles of chalk inside may indicate a lime store, but again this seems more like a reuse.
Very odd.
Visited by E. Rose (NAU) 31 January 1980.

December 1985.
For circumstances of discovery see Notes.
As of Commodus, dateable by offices to AD 181.
Reverse: Providence with list of titles.
Identified by E. James (KLM) 3 January 1986.

1992.
The small lime kiln was found to have been buried in mud and English Nature were to contact the Royal estates to have it dug out.
Information from [1].

See also NIAS records note (S1)
W. Arnold (HES) 08/12/2010

  • --- Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
  • --- Secondary File: Secondary File.
  • <S1> Archive: NIAS. Norfolk Industrial Archaeology Society Records.
  • COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)

Related NHER Records (0)

Record last edited

Nov 19 2025 8:51AM

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