19th century lime kiln and folly at junction of High Street and Abbey Lane (EHER 461)

A watching brief in 1978 observed a lime kiln on the site of a documented folly.

1978. Watching brief. Excavation of footings for a house in the rear garden of 53 High Street, observed by M.R. Eddy of ECC Archaeology Section in 1978. The site is east of the 1876 cemetery (see EHER 453) and of Petchey's 1976 excavations (see EHER 418-427). It is 75m west of the High Street frontage, south of Abbey Lane. The topography of the site was much altered in the 19th century when the southern part was built up and a pseudo-castle folly built on the artificial mound. The topsoil depth decreased from north to south across the site. Most of the east half of the site was occupied by early 19th century brick walls enclosing a possible brick kiln. The latter showed as a partial oval of burnt chalk with a pit to the east filled by crushed chalk and ash. <1>