NHER 52759 (Monument) - Early post-medieval brick kilns and clay extraction pits

July 2009. Watching Brief.
Monitoring of excavation of new soke dyke as part of Broadland Flood Alleviation Project (Compartment 12).
An area of brick fragments and burnt material was encountered during the initial topsoil stripping at this location, which coincides with a group of probable post-medieval clay extraction pits visible on aerial photographs (NHER 49350). Subsequent topsoil stripping took place under closer archaeological supervision, with three trenches then excavated to determine the nature of any remains present. These revealed a number of clay extraction pits and the remnants of a reasonably substantial brick kiln. Investigation of these remains uncovered evidence for an earlier kiln, which was overlain by material that contained frequent brick fragments and presumably resulted from the demolition of this structure. The later brick kiln was constructed above the make-up deposits sealing the earlier structure. The main structure is thought to have comprised nine triple rows of bricks (only six of which were exposed), the gaps between which formed fire channels for firing the kiln. These channels were arranged to either side of a central spine that appeared to be formed from compacted clay and bricks – many of which were fragmentary. The ends of the kiln were defined by lines of fragmentary bricks which did not extend across the ends of the fire channels. In three areas distinct layers of bricks were recorded that potentially represented the base of the brick stack from the kiln’s final firing.
The one pit excavated was found to have a brown silty peat primary fill suggesting organic material had been allowed to build up naturally within this feature. Its upper fill contained frequent fragments of ceramic building material and had probably been deposited after the site was abandoned (and possibly deliberately levelled). Two pottery sherds of 16th- to 17th century date were recovered from this deposit. This is broadly consistent with the likely age of the bricks from the site, which are thought to be of 16th-century date. None of the documentary or cartographic sources consulted record any evidence for brick making at this site, indicating there was no traces or memory of such an activity by the later post-medieval period. It is suggested that bricks from the site may have been used during the construction of nearby Park Hall in 1557, although no comparison could be made with its fabric as it was demolished following a fire in 1750 (see NHER 10432).
Following the completion of these archaeological investigations it was decided that the remains uncovered would be preserved in situ – with the old soke dyke infilled and a new drain constructed along its line.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
The results of this work are summarised in (S1).
P. Watkins (HES), 11 February 2025.