Monument record 0262302000 - BRILL

First record of potters in Brill occurs in 1254; payments of 'claygavel' (fees for the right to dig potting clay) were made regularly to the lord of the manor of Brill in C13 & C14. Potting continued into the C19, the last potter being Mr Hubbocks, who ceased production in the 1860'S (B5).

A pottery industry at Brill was first documented circa 1210-20 and 1254 and appeared to have been in continuous operation until the mid 19th century. At least 12 kiln have been identified within the village, some have been identifed from pottery scatters, others from excavations. The earliest known kilns were Musty type 2c examples with double stoke holes and a central pedestal which were in production during the 14th century. Kiln products were handmade but wheel-finished, the range included cooking pots, jugs, pans, bowls, skillets and pipkins in sandy fabrics with quartz, limestone and flint inclusions. Later kilns which have been excavated were in production during the 16th century-17th century and the mid 19th century. The kilns included Musty type 4 examples and remains of possible brick kilns or pot drying ovens. Kiln products included jugs, cisterns, bowls, Cistercian wares and tiles in mainly sandy fabric. A small proportion of the pottery assemblage comprised whitewares. Clay pits possibly associated with the pottery industry, but more likely to be associated with brick and tile kiln documented in the area during the 18th century-19th century, are present on Brill Common, to the northwest of the village (B14).
A large part of Brill Common is covered in Medieval and post-medieval clay pits associated with the pottery industry (B16).
The extensive overgrown earthwork remains of quarrying and spoil can be seen within the southern part of Brill Common immediately to the north of Brill. This is likely to be the remains of the medieval clay digging. This could be seen on aerial photographs taken by English Heritage in November 2006 as part of the Reconnaissance Recording programme (B17).
This record includes National Record of the Historic Environment Information provided by Historic England on 4 June 2025 licensed under the Open Government Licence (B15).