Monument record 0152300000 - HEDGERLEY KILNS

REMAINS OF AT LEAST 5 KILNS FOUND IN 2 EXCAVATIONS. SIMPLE SINGLE-CHAMBER KILNS PRODUCING POTTERY SIMILAR TO FULMER (BUT SEE DEVEREUX'S CHEMICAL ANALYSIS WHICH DISTNGUISHES 1935, 1963 & FULMER POT) (B7).
1963 EXCAVATION UNPUBLISHED. OTHER NEARBY KILN SITES: CASS 01531; 02145; ?02569; FULMER 00141; ETC (B1-16).


Roman pottery kilns were found at Hedgerley on the highest part of the large field lying to the S of Wapsey's Wood, about 1/2 mile N of Hedgerley Church.

(SU 9725 8827) See Plan) An exploratory excavation was carried out in 1934 to determine the nature and extent of the site, followed by a main excavation in 1935. This revealed two kilns and their respective stoking pits together with traces of another kiln and two ovens. Traces of a third kiln were apparent in the SE corner of the area but this appeared to have been largely destroyed.

Although the kilns may well have been established late in the reign of Hadrian (cAD 130), their period of greatest activity is early or middle Antonine, and there is no evidence that they survived the third quarter of the 2nd c. (Nothing visible on available AP's RAF 1950 1955) (B1).

Further examination of the area excavated in 1934-5 revealed another Kiln and some pits and ditches.

The pottery is datable to the second century AD (B18).

At present these Kilns are dated to c AD 130-70 but stratified finds of Hedgerley matterial at Latimer suggest that they may have stayed in production a little longer (B19).

No ground trace.

Published survey (25") correct (B20).

NRHE Insert 1997 (B21).