Roman kiln at Oak Field, Ashdon (EHER 158)

Site of a Roman tile kiln excavated in 1852. Summary from record 158: Roman kiln.

Monument description derived from merging EHER 158 and 81339. Roman kiln. The discovery of numerous tile and pot fragments on the surface of Oak Field led RC Neville to carry out excavations on the site in 1852 which resulted in the discovery of the kiln. Measurements: 5.48m square externally with a 3.5 x 2.6m combustion chamber. Seven cross walls separated eight lateral flues each 180mm wide and having sloping floors 300mm above the level of the main flue - Grimes type III. Main flue: 760mm wide at entrance but only 600mm wide along most of its length. Kiln constructed of tiles, some flanged, presumably tegulae, bonded by clay. Excavations produced three or four coins of the Constantine family, their stratification was not recorded. Very little pottery was found. <1> - <4> See also: <5> 2000. Metal detecting rally. Metal detecting rally at Radwinter, Ashdon, Essex. Attended by R. Clarke, J. Compton, R. Tyrrell, and D. Williams. <6> See also: <7> NRHE data transfer: 1950. Field survey. A Roman tile kiln was discovered and excavated by R.C. Neville in Oak Field 2.5 miles east of Saffron Walden and just within Ashdon parish boundary in 1852. It was almost 18ft square with the main axis running north east to south west. Small finds consisted of pottery, a deer's horn, iron knife, other iron fragments and three or four brass Constantinian coins. Oak Field was not shown on the Tithe Map of 1845. An approximate siting from the description would be TL 588 388 (Note names Tile Kiln Grove at TL 599 391 and Burntfield Grove at TL 598 393). <8> <9> See also: <10>