Monument record 1852/3 - Ashton Medieval Kiln

<1> Newstead, R (Prof.), 1934, Medieval Pottery and Kiln at Ashton, near Chester (Article in Journal). SCH9380.

A medieval potter's kiln found in a garden at Smithy House, Ashton, in October 1933. The kiln was oval, seven feet six inchess by seven feet, with a stoke hole on the south-eastern side (.circa seventeen inches wide), surrounded by charcoal. Flues on the western and northern sides. The south-western side of the kiln was well preserved, but little remained on the north-eastern side where it has slipped down-slope towards a stream ditch. The floor of kiln was of puddled clay. Contained thousands of broken tiles and pot sherds. Thirty vessels reconstructed by Proffessor Newstead, mostly jugs and pitchers, but some cooking pots and dishes, dating from the thirteenth to the fifteenth centuries. The kiln back filled.

<2> English Heritage, Various, Old/Original Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Description), CH32 (Scheduling Record). SCH4606.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ 56 NW 6 (Index). SCH2487.

A medieval potter's kiln found in a garden at Smithy House, Ashton, in October 1933. The kiln contained thousands pottery fragments from which thirty vessels, chiefly jugs and pitchers, have been reconstructed, representing a series from the thirteenth to the fifteenth centuries. Little more than the foundations of the furnace remain. Pottery in the Grosvenor Museum.

A wooden stake in the garden of the occupier of Smithy House marks the site of the Kiln at SJ5066 6922. It is on a small turf covered slope and there are no surface remains. [J.H. White, 26/06/1964].

No change since report of 26/06/1964]. [ASP, 12/03/1976].

The kiln has been virtually obliterated above ground level by persons and at a time unknown. However, before aceeding to the proposals for descheduling the site, the Ancient Monuments Board reccomended archaeological investigation should take place to determine the state of preservation of any below ground remains [WRWN, 25/02/1987].

<4> Ancient Monuments Board for England, 1913-1983, Ancient Monuments Board for England: Minutes and Annual Reports, No.29, p.24, 1982 (Paper Archive). SCH9381.

<5> Davey P J (ed), 1977, Medieval Pottery from Excavations in the North West, p.70-85 (Monograph). SCH2158.

Pottery sherds found by Mr G.B. Leach while digging in his garden in October 1933 were identified by Professor Newstead as being waste kiln material. Mr Leach , with the help of Mr M.H. Ridgeway, excavated the site that winter. Finds distributed between British Museum, Grosvenor Museum, Manchester Museum and Canon M.H. Ridgeway. In subsequent years excavations in the area recovered more pottery, but found no further kiln structures.

Grid reference given in this report.

Description of the site: The foundations of a sub-rectangular, triple flued kiln, measuring c.2.29 metres by 2.135 metres were found set into bedrock, the flues opening to the north, west and south-east. The western fluie and south-western wall had been built against the quarried out face of the bedrock and as a result were the best preserved. The other two walls and flues did not have the support of the rock and had collapsed. Following the line of around the interior there was a shallow gutter. The floor and walls consisted of puddled clay, reinforced with the waste sherds of pottery and thin flat tile fragment, this was also the composition of the collapsed superstructure which lay on top of the foundations. Around the south-eastern flue there was a compacted mass of charcoal, which included oak and birch and a few sherds of pottery. Against the northeast wall of this flue there was found an almost complete baluster jug.

<6> Vince A, 1985, Report on thin section analysis of pot from Grosvenor Museum (Book). SCH2852.

Thin section analysis of the type fabric of Ashton Kiln undertaken by A Vince for Grosvenor Museum (5)

<7> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Watson, M. 6/4/2016 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

GIS point relocated to SJ5066 6922 as recorded from field visit on OS record card (source 3). Also a polygon created for the record.