NHER 58194 (Monument record) - A probable Early Roman pottery kiln and a medieval or post-medieval boundary ditch found on the site of the Canary Public House

April 2011. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site of proposed residential development.
This work revealed several archaeologically significant features, one of which was almost certainly a Roman pottery kiln. This pit-like feature was found in the westernmost trench, where the overlying soil deposits were considerably deeper. Although it lacked some of the characteristics generally expected of Roman kilns (such as a clay lining), it nevertheless had heat-reddened sides and produced a large assemblage of Roman pottery, including a number of misfired sherds. A single fragment of possible kiln superstructure was also recovered. A somewhat sinuous linear feature that extended to the south of the kiln was possible related to its use, although it may have been of natural origin. The pottery recovered from the kiln included a variety of platters, bowls and jars likely to have been produced in the late 1st century (c. AD 60 to AD 80/90). These vessels are similar to the products of contemporary kilns at Caistor St. Edmund, Postwick, Spong Hill and Brampton.
The other features identified included a large south-east to north-west aligned ditch. This appears to correspond with a boundary marked on a number of 19th century maps and was therefore almost certainly of post-medieval date. A second, narrower and differently-aligned ditch was also identified, although this produced no dating evidence.
The remains of a flint and mortar wall revealed in the eastern part of the site was most likely related to an earlier public house that reportedly stood on the site prior to the construction of the recently demolished structure.
See report (S1) for further details.
The archive associated with this work has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2011.369).
P. Watkins (HES), 23 October 2012.

August-September 2011. Watching Brief.
Monitoring of groundworks associated with construction of residential dwellings.
Across much of the site these excavations exposed and truncated the natural sand and gravel deposits. No archaeologically significant features or deposits were identified, although two small clusters of Early Roman pottery were recovered from a dark subsoil deposit close to where the possible Roman kiln had been identified during the evaluation (Plots 1-6).
See report (S2) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 23 October 2012