NHER 17811 (Monument record) - Site of post-medieval brick kiln

8 December 1981. Field Observation (Monitoring).
South-west corner of 'allotments' on Ordnance Survey (now building site) by Town Lane.
Brick kiln discovered. Roof of brick tunnel exposed by machine. Had vent holes in it and was empty inside. Now about 1.5m (5 feet) below surface but remains of kiln superstructure continue up to ground level. Destroyed in operation which revealed it. Work was stopped and when examined by E. Rose (NAU) the northeast end of the tunnel continued around 2.4m (8 feet) to a blank wall, and the southwest end continued at least 4.5m (15 feet) to a gentle earth slope suggesting infill from the entrance. Brick red, with a course of thin yellow brick above the tunnel arch. Bricks burnt violet on exposed surfaces and encrusted with huge formations of green glaze. Many fragments of brick and thin tile around. The destroyed portion was the kiln itself and the entrance to the firing tunnel was at southwest end. Nothing shown here on (S1) or (S2), but former shows as allotments. Were these made on infilled brickyard? (S3) lists two brickmakers in Aylsham and bricks suggest this date is about right.
Original information from Broadland Architects Department.
Samples of brick at Rural Life Museum.
See photographs in file.
E. Rose (NAU), 8 December 1981.