NHER 424 (Monument record) - Late Saxon kiln and pottery sherds, 27 Bedford Street (Hovell's)

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Summary

In 1979 a rescue excavation took place at this site during work to rebuilt No 27 Bedford Street (NHER 62386) after it was badly damaged by fire. A large number of Late Saxon pottery sherds were recovered during groundworks at the rear of the property, with the small subsequent excavation revealing the remains of a pottery kiln. This kiln was one of several in the area that appear to have been associated with Thetford-type ware production around the 11th century (see also NHER 163 and NHER 53). The faint traces of a second kiln were seen to the west of the excavated kiln.

Protected Status/Designation

None recorded

Location

Map sheet	TG20NW
Civil Parish	NORWICH, NORWICH, NORFOLK

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Full Description

December 1979-January 1980. Rescue Excavation and Watching Brief.
NAU/NCM watching brief and rescue excavation after fire gutted No 27 Bedford Street (NHER 62386).
Late Saxon pottery sherds, including wasters, of Theford-type ware found on building site.
Small kiln slightly damaged. Oval shaped kiln with flue to south-west. Kiln dug into natural and lined with clay. Finger marks of the potter survived on the south wall of the flue. Two chalk pedestals for the kiln floor survived to their full height. Sixteen bags of Thetford-type thin-walled wheel thrown undecorated cooking pot were recovered from the kiln.
Faint remains of second kiln seen west of this kiln at a lower level.
See published article (S1) for further details.
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2022.77).
B. S. Ayers (NAU) and W. F. Milligan (NCM). Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 6 December 2022.

Associated Sources (7)

--- SNF8808 Fiche: Exists.
--- SNF98613 Illustration: [Unknown]. [Unknown]. Drawing of a Late Saxon Thetford-type Ware pottery sherd. Card. 1:1.
--- SNF8902 Photograph: BKJ, EHX.
--- SNF87213 Record Card: NCM Staff. 1973-1989. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card - Norwich.
--- SNF8804 Secondary File: Secondary File.
--- SNF8807 Slide: Various. Slide.
<S1> SNF67493 Article in Monograph: Atkin, M. W., Ayers, B. S. and Jennings, S. 1983. Thetford-Type Ware Production in Norwich. Waterfront Excavation and Thetford Ware Production. E. Ang. Arch.. No 17 pp 61-97. pp 77-79, 90-92.

Site and Feature Types and Periods (2)

Object Types (6)

ANIMAL REMAINS (Undated)
KILN FURNITURE (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
KILN WASTE (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
POT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
POT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)