Information for record number MWA6108:
Site of Roman Kilns south of Dick's Lane Bridge

Summary The site of a pottery kiln dating to the Roman period, which is known from finds of pottery. The site is located 800m north west of Turner's Green.
What Is It?  
Type: Pottery Kiln, Kiln, Pit, Ditch, Building?
Period: Romano-British (43 AD - 409 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Lapworth
District: Warwick, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 18 69
(Data represented on this map shows the current selected record as a single point, this is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an accurate or complete representation of archaeological sites or features)
Level of Protection National - Old SMR PrefRef (Grade: )
Sites & Monuments Record
Picture(s) attached

  
Description

  
Source Number  

1 1987 A field 100 metres south of the Lapworth tile kilns (MWA 1699) was systematically fieldwalked in advance of M40 construction. Over 30 kg of tile and small quantities of Roman pottery were found. Much of the tile was concentrated in a relatively small area near the south-west corner of the field but outside the line of the motorway. No daub was found so the concentration was probably either a waster dump or possibly a building. Subsequent field work located a scatter of Roman grey wares including a waster and kiln debris, possibly indicating a Roman pottery kiln. This kiln is on the motorway route.
2 Geophysics survey subsequent to the 1987 fieldwalking located 2 possible pottery kilns and other anomalies on the motorway route and these features were the first to be examined when work commenced in March 1988. The two kilns were located and excavated. Additional areas were opened to the east and south of the two kilns and south of the stream. A third kiln was discovered in one of these areas. The kilns were of two types. kilns 1 and 3 had a permanent floor supported by pedestals and a distinctive, very small stokehole. kiln 2 was badly damaged by ploughing, but it is clear that it had no pedestals, and the nature of the floor is uncertain. The stokehole was larger than that of kilns 1 and 3. All three produced sandy reduced coarse wares, but kiln 2 also produced oxidised wares. The type of pottery found indicated a date in the first half of the 2nd century. It is possible that kiln 2 was slightly earlier than this.
3 Noted.
4 Noted.
5 A brooch of the Polden Hill type, a head of a T-Shaped or Tapering Bow type brooch and a foot/catch plate of a Dolphin or Polden Hill Brooch were found at this location by Mr D Adams and Mr D Jenkins.
6 Illustrations of brooches described in ref
5.
7 Further notes on this site investigated ahead of construction works on the M40. This report talks about sparse evidence for domestic activity being located with the kilns, including ditches and pits. On the crest of the ridge to the south of the stream the largest area excavated (only 11m by 15m) revealed gravel surfaces associated with clusters of stone and tile, which may have represented supports for some kind of timber structure. The associated finds from this area suggested 3rd-4th century activity, the pottery being of common types and having no connections with the kiln's products. Schematic illustration of kiln.
8 These early to mid-2nd century pottery kilns are of two types; kilns 1 and 3 had a permanent floor supported by pedestals and with a very small stokehole. kiln 2 was badly damaged by ploughed and is of unclear type.
 
Sources
Source No: 4
Source Type: Article in serial
Title: Britannia: Roman Britain in 1988
Author/originator: S S Frere, MWC Hassall and R S O Tomlin
Date: 1989
Page Number: 257-345
Volume/Sheet: 20
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Drawing
Title: Romano British brooch fragments from Lapworth
Author/originator: Pickin J L
Date: 1988
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Museum Enquiry Form
Title: WMEF 1064
Author/originator: Pickin J L
Date: 1988
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 1064
   
Source No: 8
Source Type: Internet Data
Title: The Pottery Kilns of Roman Britain
Author/originator: Vivien G Swan & Andrew Peachey
Date: 2014
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 1
Source Type: Serial
Title: WMA vol 30
Author/originator: Cracknell S et al
Date: 1987
Page Number: 46
Volume/Sheet: 30
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Serial
Title: WMA vol 31
Author/originator: Booth P
Date: 1988
Page Number: 33
Volume/Sheet: 31
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Serial
Title: WMA vol 33
Author/originator: Adams D et al
Date: 1990
Page Number: 82
Volume/Sheet: 33
   
Source No: 7
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: M40 Motorway, Warwickshire: Archaeological Survey 1992
Author/originator: Adams, D, Jenkins, D and Wise, J.
Date: 1994
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
Plan of a Roman pottery kiln, Lapworth
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Date: 1996
Click here for larger image  
 
back to top

Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
source Britannia Britannia, the journal of the Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies which contains articles about the archaeology of Roman Britain. It is published annually and copies are held at the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
source WMA West Midlands Archaeology. This publication contains a short description for each of the sites where archaeological work has taken place in the previous year. It covers Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands and Worcestershire. Some of these descriptions include photographs, plans and drawings of the sites and/or the finds that have been discovered. The publication is produced by the Council For British Archaeology (CBA) West Midlands and is published annually. Copies are held at the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
source WMEF Warwickshire Museum Enquiry Form. These are forms that are filled in when a person brings an object to Warwickshire Museum to be identified. Amongst the information recorded on the form are details such as a description of the object, where and when it was found, and in some cases a sketch or photographs of it. Copies of the form can be viewed at the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
technique Field work The term ‘field work’ refers to any work that is undertaken in the out-doors or, as archaeologists sometimes say, ‘in the field’. It usually involves the recovery of primary evidence by archaeologists carrying out an excavation, field survey and/or aerial survey. back
period Roman About 43 AD to 409 AD (the 1st century AD to the 5th century AD)

The Roman period comes after the Iron Age and before the Saxon period.

The Roman period in Britain began in 43 AD when a Roman commander called Aulus Plautius invaded the south coast, near Kent. There were a series of skirmishes with the native Britons, who were defeated. In the months that followed, more Roman troops arrived and slowly moved westwards and northwards.
more -> 		back
monument SITE * Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible. back
monument KILN * A furnace or oven for burning, baking or drying. Use specific type where known. back
monument BUILDING * A structure with a roof to provide shelter from the weather for occupants or contents. Use specific type where known. back
monument STONE * Use only where stone is natural or where there is no indication of function. back
monument CONSTRUCTION WORKS * A site associated with the large scale construction of buildings or items manufactured by the building industry. back
monument FLOOR * A layer of stone, brick or boards, etc, on which people tread. Use broader site type where known. back
monument FEATURE * Areas of indeterminate function. back
monument PIT * A hole or cavity in the ground, either natural or the result of excavation. Use more specific type where known. back
monument DOLPHIN * A cluster of piles for mooring a vessel. back
monument PEDESTAL * A concrete, cylindrical pedestal on which a spigot mortar was mounted. The pedestal is often the only evidence for a Spigot Mortar emplacement to survive. back
monument POTTERY KILN * A structure, composed of oven and hovel, used for the firing of pottery ware. back
monument FIELD * An area of land, often enclosed, used for cultivation or the grazing of livestock. back
monument MOTORWAY * Fast arterial road with separate carriageways limited to motor vehicles back
monument DITCH * A long and narrow hollow or trench dug in the ground, often used to carry water though it may be dry for much of the year. back
monument STRUCTURE * A construction of unknown function, either extant or implied by archaeological evidence. If known, use more specific type. back
monument STREAM * A natural flow or current of water issuing from a source. back
monument DOMESTIC * This is the top term for the class. See DOMESTIC Class List for narrow terms. back
monument TILE KILN * A structure in which pottery tiles were baked. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record