NHER 5730 (Monument record) - Roman kiln and pottery sherds, Two Mile Bottom

1892. Excavation to west of manure works by railway cutting, 6.1m (20ft) above river and 6.1m (20ft) from river bank.
The kiln was probably built in a hole to case its walls as pottery sherds were found from 30cm (1ft) to 2.4m (8ft) below the modern ground surface. At a depth of 2.1m (7ft) were two upright pillars of hardened clay, and (S2) adds that he thought he remembered an arch joining the pillars. This structure forms the flue from the stokehole to the combustion chamber.
The kiln was circular, measuring 1.68m (5ft 6in) in diameter and 5.1m (16ft 8in) in circumference, with a wall of clay marl 69cm (2ft 3in) high and 15cm (6 inches) thick. The flue in side was 51cm (1ft 8in) wide with pillars 76cm (2ft 6in) high and 61cm (2 feet) wide. The floor was of chalk marl approximately 7.6cm (3 inches) thick.
The interior of the kiln contained potsherds, animal bones, fired and unfired clay, some with thumb and finger impressions, some with grass and straw impressions (about 1.3-2.5cm (0.5-1.0in) thick). Pottery included one complete lid and a base. Sherds varied in colour, thickness and decoration, the commonest being yellow (?unfired) and over 0.6cm (0.25in) thick; black and grey wares were also common. Some charcoal was present.
This account is drawn from (S1), which in turn is based upon (S2) and (S3). The site is marked on (S4) and (S5)
R. R. Clarke (NCM).