Monument record 10663 - Medieval Kilns, Deanery Field

Excavations by Newstead and Droop in the Deanery Field revealed two medieval kilns built over remains of Roman barrack blocks (specifically Room 18). In 1928, a parallel flued tile kiln was excavated, c 2m square, divided into two chambers, each spanned by five arches, built of voussoir tiles, and springing from a 0.3m thick base of sandstone with a central spine. Internally the kiln was c 1.42m long (1).

In 1935, c 11m to the south-west, the remains of a pottery kiln were found. This was built on the line of the east wall of a Roman barrack block. The south part of structure was a badly damaged arched furnace chamber, consisting of four arches of wedge-shaped tile voussoirs, separated by vertical ribs of sandstone and set into a course of dressed sandstone blocks. The north portion was the stoke-hole. Finds from immediately in front of the flue include medieval pot sherds of jugs, pitchers and strap handles, floor tiles and tiles from kiln (2).

<1> Droop, J P and R Newstead, 1931, Excavations in the Deanery Field, Chester, 1928, 18/6-18 Droop J P & Newstead R 1931 (Article in Journal). SCH6475.

<2> Newstead, R (Prof.), 1936, Excavations in the Deanery Field and Abbey Green, 1935, 23/47-50 1936 Droop J P & Newstead R 1936 (Article in Journal). SCH6480.

<3> Davey P J (ed), 1977, Medieval Pottery from Excavations in the North West, /86-91 (Monograph). SCH2158.