Roman tile kiln, near Moat Farm (EHER 9316)

Site of a Roman tile kiln excavated in 1928.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: Roman tile kiln (R) (Site of) (NAT). <1> Roman tile kiln found in 1928 in a sand pit. <2> The kiln was found in a sandpit east of the lane opposite the spinney SSW of Moat Farm. It had a single flue, side walls and arched stokehole intact all built of unbaked tiles laid in a clay which firing had hardened more than the tiles. No trace remained of the kiln floor but the flue contained much charcoal. Only a small part of the walling of the kiln itself survived but the lines were defined by burnt sand at the back of the tile lining. The tiles used in the structure were mainly imperfect, among them several tiles for hypocaust pillars, 9" square x 1.5" thick, and many broken roof tiles. The kiln may have made tiles for the building reported from the churchyard. VCH has plan and section. Source 3 has plan and photo. <3> <4> Flued part of the stokehole survived. Behind the walls the sand was burnt purple for several centimetres confirming the interpretation as a flue, as does the thick charcoal layer. No floor was found and little of the superstructure remained. All remains were removed immediately the investigation was completed, destroyed by removal of sand and gravel. There are no finds in Colchester Museum. Plan and sections in this source. <5> May 1960. Field visit. Site confirmed by J. Stuck and W. Harrington, who were present at the excavation. No trace of the kiln remains and the site is now marked by a small, overgrown gravel pit. <6> See also: <7>