Medieval pottery kiln near Harmas Farm (EHER 6283)

A possible medieval pottery kiln was found near Harmas Farm.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: A medieval kiln, according to the farmer, was ploughed up before being investigated near Harmers Farm at Gosfield. <1> The site lies north of Kemp's Wood. There is placename evidence for a kiln in the area in the form of the names 'Pot Field' and 'Kiln Field' half a mile to the south-west and 'Shed Ley' and 'Kiln Field' 100 yards beyond Hogg's Farm. There are medieval woodland remains in the area which would have supplied fuel for the kilns. The site was visited after ploughing and the kiln showed as fired clay, charcoal and many potsherds. The site had apparently been ploughed for some years. Three pottery fabrics were identified and one could be a foreign introduction. The kiln seemed to have specialised in one form of cooking pot (with flat-topped rim and no neck) and, from the rim diameters, to have made them in standard sizes. Such specialisation has been observed at other small kilns in Essex. The form "falls into the Essex 14th century style of cooking pot". "The kiln forms the southern limit of the Hedingham group, and it might be expected that its products would be found in Braintree, which, only three miles away, must have formed its major market". Similar pots have in fact been found in excavations in Braintree, at 13-17 Bank Street. <2> The Kemp's Wood finds are in Saffron Walden Museum. <3> Drawings of the pots can be found. <4> November 1975. Field visit. The site of the kiln is marked by an area of burnt red clay, dark soil and a heavy scatter of unglazed wasters and tile. Site surveyed at 1:2500. <5> - <7> See EHER 6282 for Roman pottery from the same location.