NHER 9406 (Monument record) - Post-medieval kilns and potentially associated features

1976. Fieldwalking Survey.
Found in south-west corner of northern field (Context 1):
Scatter of probable kiln debris comprising large amounts of lead glazed ware (including wasters) and tiles with wasted glaze and sherds attached.
See location plan (S1).
The finds were donated to Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 1976.109).
Information from (S2).
See NHER 58621 for further details on these and other unstratified finds recovered in this field.
E. Rose (NAU). Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 22 November 2018.

1976/1977. Fieldwalking Survey.
NARG survey of bypass route.
This work is known to have identified another significant scatter of post-medieval pottery at the eastern end of the southern field. This was also interpreted as represent possible kiln debris.
See NHER 14272 for further details on these and other unstratified finds recovered in this field.
P. Watkins (HES), 25 November 2018.

1977. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey within northern field, focused on the site of the previously identified pottery scatter (Context 1).
Revealed three anomalies that possible indicate the presence of kilns.
See report (S3) for further details. See also (S4) and short summary in (S5).
E. Rose (NAU), 18 August 1987.

This is one of two sites in the vicinity of Newfound Farm that have now revealed the remains of post-medieval kilns that were probably producing a mix of pottery, brick and tile (the other - NHER 63104 - is immediately to the west of Newfound Farm at TG 1863 0686). There are also documentary references that suggest potters were working in this area from at least the mid 17th century onwards. It appears that Newfound Farm itself was established in the late 16th century, on land purchased by John Balleston of Norwich that had previously been described as "…baraine grounde and not built…". In 1645 a Thomas Balleston mortgaged several fields at Cringleford, one of which was known as "The Potters Close formerly Gravel Pit Close…" and several subsequent 17th-century documents refer to potters at the site. See (S6) for a detailed summary of the available documentary evidence. In (S7) Blomefield records that that the name 'Newfound' itself was a reference to "...a remarkable sort of earth newly found there, which was lately transported to Holland for the potters use…". This supports the suggestion that many of the disused pits in this area are former clay quarries. It appears that these industries had ceased to exist by the time that Blomefield was writing.
P. Watkins (HES), 22 November 2018.

March 2010. Desk-based Assessment.
Survey of large proposed development area.
See report (S8) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 21 November 2018.

January 2011. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of part of large proposed development area (Fields D and E).
This survey identified three discrete dipolar anomalies at the boundary between these two fields, all of which have magnetic signatures of a kind commonly produced by kilns and similar structures. Two are likely to correspond with the probable kilns identified by the earlier survey. A series of discrete high magnetic anomalies to the east of these probable kilns may present associated pits or areas of burning.
A rectilinear negative anomaly identified in the north-east corner of the northern field may represent an infilled section of the adjacent former quarry, although it is also suggest that it could indicate the presence of structural remains.
A broad zone of discrete magnetism likely to represent manure scatters was identified in the southern filed and scatters of post-medieval pottery, tile and brick were also noted in this area whilst the survey was being undertaken. A series of discrete anomalies in this field could represent either pits or variations in the underlying geology.
See report (S9) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 21 November 2018.