Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

During a watching brief associated with the Channel Tunnel Rail Link excavations from 2001-2003 an apparently isolated tile kiln was partially uncovered c. 750 m west of Springhead Nursery. The kiln was aligned east-west and was built on a slight promontory. Approximately on third of it was exposed during the excavation. (location accurate to th enearest 100m based on available information)

Monument Types

• FLUE (Medieval - 1300 AD? to 1520 AD?)
• FURNACE (Medieval - 1300 AD? to 1520 AD?)
• STOKE PIT (Medieval - 1300 AD? to 1520 AD? (at some time))
• TILE KILN (Medieval - 1300 AD? to 1520 AD?)

Associated Finds

• PEG TILE (Medieval - 1300 AD? to 1520 AD?)

Full description

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During Channel Tunnel Rail Link excavations from 2001-2003 an apparently isolated tile kiln was partially uncovered c. 750 m west of Springhead Nursery. The kiln was aligned east-west and was built on a slight promontory. Approximately on third of it was exposed during the excavation, no other features were identified within the vicinity but it is possible that other, more ephemeral, remains went Un-recognised or lay outside the area subject to investigation. Part of the stoke hole, flue and chamber were revealed. A substantial ‘stack’ of roof tiles (27 ‘courses’) was recorded, some oxidised and the remainder reduced. These were overlain by further tiles and chalk blocks and flint nodules, the latter probably representing the remains of the collapsed flue arch. Based on the nature of the kiln and associated tiles a late medieval or early post-medieval date was suggested (14th to early 16th centuries). (1)

Wessex Archaeology, 2003, Channel Tunnel Rail Link Archaeological Works at Springhead, Kent: Park Corner Road, Pepperhill Café, Pepperhill Tunnel, South of the A2, West of Springhead Nursery (Unpublished document). SKE12265.

<1> Oxford Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture, 2010, Settling the Ebbsfleet Valley. CTRL Excavations at Springhead and Northfleet, Kent. The Late Iron Age, Roman, Saxon, and Medieval Landscape (Unpublished document). SKE31245.

Sources and further reading