Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A number of Roman pottery Kilns have been found at Milfordhope since the 19th century indicating a major pottery works. Large quantities of wasters and kiln furniture were present. A briquetage floor and numerous pits and ditches were found. The main floruit of production was probably between AD 50 and AD 150.

Monument Types

• DITCH (Roman - 43 AD to 50 AD)
• KILN (Roman - 43 AD to 150 AD)
• PIT (Roman - 43 AD to 150 AD)
• POTTERY WORKS (POTTERY WORKS, Roman - 43 AD to 150 AD)

Associated Finds

• WASTER (Roman - 43 AD to 150 AD)

Full description

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[Name at TQ 86086941] ROMAN POTTERIES [R] (Site of) [NAT] (1) At MILFORD HOPE the quantity of kiln-bricks and ashes shows where the vessels were burnt, but I have not succeeded in finding more definite traces of kilns. (2) In June, 1895, along the western side of Milford Hope, many circular patches of burnt earth, which undoubtedly formed the bases of kilns, were detected upon the mud flats (3). The Milford Hope Saltings have recently yielded a pseudo-Samian cup, a small black urn-vase and two small goblets of dull red ware (4). I have obtained a considerable quantity of coarse ware and kiln bricks from the Milford Hope Saltings (5). At Milford Hope, in Stangate Creek, is a mound partly covered by the tide. It appears to be chiefly composed of kiln bricks 4" - 8" long. No perfect brick was found so it is probable that these were all thrown aside as imperfect (6).

Additional references (7-16). Additional reference from relevant field reports (17-19). For references on other sites in context of the inter-tidal zone in Kent (20) and Upchurch Marshes (21). Site photographs (22-24)..

<1> OS 6" 1906-38 (OS Card Reference). SKE48316.

<2> PSA 2nd ser 7 1876-8 292 (CH Woodruff) (OS Card Reference). SKE48798.

<3> Arch Cant 22 1897 liii (G Payne) (OS Card Reference). SKE34849.

<4> Arch Cant 24 1900 lix (G Payne) (OS Card Reference). SKE34872.

<5> Collectanea Cantiana 1893 79 (G Payne) (OS Card Reference). SKE39223.

<6> Collectanea Antiqua 6 1868 184 (C Roach Smith) (OS Card Reference). SKE39201.

<7> VCH Kent 3 1932 132-3 (OS Card Reference). SKE51017.

<8> Maidstone Museum 6" (D Kelly Arch Asst) (OS Card Reference). SKE46366.

<9> G Davis 17 Drakes Close Upchurch (OS Card Reference). SKE43450.

<10> F1 CFW 25-JUN-63 (OS Card Reference). SKE42761.

<11> F2 AC 10-AUG-63 (OS Card Reference). SKE43053.

<12> Oral I Jackson 63 Woodlands Road Gillingham (OS Card Reference). SKE47930.

<13> Oral G Davies 17 Drakes Close Upchurch (OS Card Reference). SKE47924.

<14> F3 CFW 17-NOV-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE43385.

<15> Arch Cant 68 1954 74-5 figs 82-4 (I Noel Hume) (OS Card Reference). SKE35439.

<16> Pottery Kilns of Ro Britain RCHME Supplementary Series 5 1984 411-3 (VG Swan) (OS Card Reference). SKE48566.

<17> Field report for monument TQ 86 NE 1 - June, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4520.

<18> Field report for monument TQ 86 NE 1 - August, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4521.

<19> Field report for monument TQ 86 NE 1 - November, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4522.

<20> Department of Archaeology, University of Reading, 1994, Inter-tidal archaeology in Kent, p 27 (Unpublished document). SWX9353.

<21> Hume, I. N., 1954, Romano-British potteries on the Upchurch Marshes (Article in serial). SWX9389.

<22> 1997, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11259.

<23> 1997, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11261.

<24> 1997, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11262.

Sources and further reading