Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A probable pottery kiln was identified near Cheesecourt Gate following bomb damage in 1942. A second kiln was recorded to the north in 1945. This was a tile kiln which produced a range of floor and roof tiles. Some of the tiles were decorated and glazed. The kilns were part of the Tyler Hill pottery industry.

Monument Types

• POTTERY KILN (POTTERY KILN, Medieval - 1200 AD to 1399 AD)
• TILE KILN (TILE KILN, Medieval - 1200 AD to 1399 AD)

Associated Finds

• SHERD (Medieval - 1200 AD to 1399 AD)

Full description

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[TR 14166137] Mediaeval kilns (sites of) [NR] (1) In 1942, bombing uncovered the probable site of a late 13th century pottery kiln in the woodlands around Tyler Hill, near Canterbury, and in 1945, a tile kiln was found on the northern edge of the bomb- disturbed area. Later fieldwork by J Chappell revealed the sites of three tile kilns and one pottery kiln dateable to the 13th and 14th century. The pottery was in a sandy micaceous firing fabric, often with an olive green glaze, forms included cooking pots, storage jars, jugs and pipkins. (2-4) `A'. At TR 14156136 is a waterfilled bomb-crater, 12.0m in diameter. In the upcast soil around the perimeter are considerable numbers of Md. pottery sherds. `B'. 30.0m to the NE, at TR 14166138, is a mound of blackish earth, 18.0m by 10.0m and 1.2m high. In the sides are exposed masses of broken roof, wall and floor tiles. The sites, in woodland, are much overgrown. (Surveyed at 1/2500). (5)

<1> OS 6" 1961 (OS Card Reference). SKE48369.

<2> Arch Cant 55 1943 57-64 (PG Spillett, WPD Stebbing and GC Dunning) (OS Card Reference). SKE35291.

<3> Arch Cant 62 1949 148 (PJ Spillett) (OS Card Reference). SKE35349.

<4> Md Arch 1 1957 170-1 (OS Card Reference). SKE46569.

<5> F1 ASP 28.11.63 (OS Card Reference). SKE42328.

<6> Field report for monument TR 16 SW 2 - November, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5574.

Sources and further reading