NHER 21190 (Monument record) - Post medieval smoke house

February 1985.
Excavation by householder in centre of garden revealed brick pavement.
Further excavation revealed it was subrectangular, with western end 'stepped' in.
Length east to west 1.40m by maximum width north to south 1.25m.
Reddish bricks roughly 24cm x 11cm crude, heavy burning on top.
Beneath one brick was at least 17cm of baked red earth.
At narrow west end, bricks and burnt sandstone seem to form a flight of steps.
Brick rubble said to have formed a 'domed mass' on top of pavement, under topsoil.
Large amount of this rubble still in sides of hole; pavement 1m below present surface and cut into natural clay (3m to north, another hole showed 31cm topsoil over natural clay).
Other patches rubble said to have been found in garden.
Bricks seem 18th/early 19th century.
Too small for brick kiln, suggested by local people to have been bacon smoking house; B. Yates (NCM) thinks this most probable though permanent brick floor is unusual, perhaps because of the wet clay ground?
The name of the house is modern; said by previous owners to date from 1639, the exterior only shows it is timber framed L shaped behind 19th century brick façade.
E. Rose (NAU) 28 February 1985.

For the house itself now see NHER 40812.
E. Rose (NLA), 24 September 2004.