Post-medieval agricultural activity and kiln, land south of Thorpe Road, Kirby Cross (EHER 81705)

Evaluation by trial trenching in 2020 uncovered post-medieval field boundaries and a possible brick kiln.

2020. Evaluation by trial trenching. A number of north/south aligned field boundaries are probably broadly dated to the post-medieval period. The incidence of dating evidence in excavated features/deposits was poor and mainly dependent on the presence of a few fragments of brick and tile, and/or ceramic land drains. The large burnt rectangular feature in Trench 34, measuring around 11.5m long by 9.3m wide is considered to be of probable late post-medieval date on the basis of the small quantity of diagnostically late ceramic building material recovered from it. Indeed, the only finds recovered from within or near the feature were frogged and unfrogged bricks and it is therefore postulated that this feature may be the remains of a clamp or kiln used for brick production. This identification of function is not entirely satisfactory, however. Despite significant in situ burning/scorching, the form of this 0.35m deep rectangular pit-like feature is not particularly indicative of it being the remains of a clamp. Alternatively, it is possible that the feature could have been a clamp of a different type, in use up to the beginning of the 20th century, where bricks were stacked much closer together and had combustible material within them. Given the subterranean nature of its base, it is equally possible that it is instead a dismantled kiln – such as a scotch kiln. However, if so, the substantial brick walls of the structure would seem to have been comprehensibly and neatly removed. It is perhaps notable that the feature is located only around 25m from the railway line and could potentially have been used to provide bricks for associated construction work. <1>