Roman pottery kiln and tile kiln, Kelvedon Hall Lane (EHER 8337)

Excavations in Heybridge Wood in the 1950s discovered a Roman tile kiln and a possible pottery kiln of 1st century date.

TL 872 157. Pottery and tiles were found in quantity under the fence on the west side of Kelvedon Hall Lane, Great Braxted, about 200 feet south of where the lane turns sharply south, following the parish boundary. (The finds were shown to Mr M R Hull by Mr Bentall in 1956). <1> <2> 1971. Field visit. Nothing could be seen except a few undatable sherds on the surface in the wood. <3> September 1976. Field visit. Correctly sited to TL 8723 1584 according to H.J.D. Bennett who saw the site with Mr. Bendall, a forestry employee. A small 1st century kiln was discovered with a debris scatter of grey ware pottery, but no evidence of tile manufacture. No trace of the site remains visible on the surface and no plan of the original discovery was made. <4> <5> <6> TL 8725 1587. Rodwell states that H.J.D Bennett and M.J Campen excavated in Heybridge Wood in the 1950s and found evidence certainly for tile kilns and possibly for pottery kilns as well. He states that the account in VCH is confused. <3> TL 872 159. A probable pottery kiln is listed at this location. <7> See also <8>. Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import.