NHER 63104 (Monument) - Post-medieval kilns and associated features

March 2010. Desk-based Assessment.
Survey of large proposed development area.
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 21 November 2018.

January 2011. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of part of large proposed development area (Fields G-I).
This survey identified three discrete dipolar anomalies in the field immediately to the west of Newfound Farm (Field H), all of which were associated with magnetic signatures characteristic of kilns. A fourth discrete anomaly in this field may also represent the remains of a kiln, although it was associated with a much weaker signal. Other anomalies in this field were most likely iron spikes caused by ferrous debris.
A group of three large discrete dipolar anomalies identified in the triangular block of land to the south-west of Newfound Farm (Field I) also had magnetic signature consistent with kiln-type structures.
The westernmost field (Field G) was found to contain a series of disrete positive anomalies likely to represent pits. The fact that these features appear to be uniformally-spaced and in neat rows suggests that they are most likely tree pits associated with one of the orchards known to have existed in the vicinity of Newfound Farm since at least the late 19th century (albeit one that doesn't appear on any of the more readily available maps).
See report (S2) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 21 November 2018.

April 2013. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of part of large proposed development site (Trenches 4-6).
The trench positioned to target geophysical anomalies detected in the field immediately to the west of Newfound Farm exposed a number of large features, several of which were associated with that appeared to be the remains of brick structures. Although the form of these structures was far from clear it is likely that at least one was some form of kiln. The finds recovered from these features were almost exclusively of earlier post-medieval date, with most of the pottery sherds dating to between the 16th and 18th centuries and the size of the measurable bricks also consistent with a 16th- or 17th-century date. The bricks and tiles recovered were in similar fabrics and may well have been manufactured at the site. The large numbers of tiles present in some features therefore probably represents the disposal of unwanted or damaged batches. It was though notable that all of the recovered examples would have been acceptable for use in constuction at the time, with no badly distorted or markedly overfired pieces recorded. Although there was no clear evidence for pottery production it was noted that several sherds were in the same fabrics as the roof tiles and one was possibly overfired - at least raising that possibility that some pottery was being made here.
The large features were interpreted as infilled clay pits, although it should be noted that at one of the structure appeared to be built within one of these pits, so their exact nature is uncertain, particularly as only miminal excavation of the larger examples was attempted.
The trench placed to investigate geophysical anomalies identified in the triangular block of land immediately to the south of Newfound Farm revealed what appeared to be a single very large pit or hollow. This presumably corresponds with the pond marked at this location on the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map, although it could well have been originally dug at a much earlier date. Partial excavation of this feature exposed a cobble surface that dipped downwards towards the centre of the hollow and appeared (at least at its margins) to be constructed directly on natural deposits. A brick of 19th- or 20th-century date was found within the cobble surface and most of the overlying deposits contained material of obviously modern date - all of which is consistent with the cartographic evidence, which suggests the pond was an extant feature until at least the mid 20th century.
The trench excavated in the westermost field exposed a pair of adjacent north-east to south-west aligned ditches and three large pits, none of which produced any dating evidence. The pits probably corresponded with some of the regularly-spaced discrete anomalies detected by the geophysical survey and were interpreted as possible sand and gravel extraction pits, although there was little real evidence for their original purpose.
See report (S3) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 25 November 2018.

This is one of two sites in the vicinity of Newfound Farm that have now revealed the remains of post-medieval kilns that were probably producing a mix of pottery, brick and tile (the other - NHER 9406 - lies approximately 750m to the south-west, at TG 1801 0640). There are also documentary references that suggest potters were working in this area from at least the mid 17th century onwards, which would be consistent with the evidence recovered at this site. It appears that Newfound Farm itself was established in the late 16th century, on land purchased by John Balleston of Norwich that had previously been described as "…baraine grounde and not built…". In 1645 a Thomas Balleston mortgaged several fields at Cringleford, one of which was known as "The Potters Close formerly Gravel Pit Close…" and several subsequent 17th-century documents refer to potters at the site. See (S4) for a detailed summary of the available documentary evidence. In (S5) Blomefield records that that the name 'Newfound' itself was a reference to "...a remarkable sort of earth newly found there, which was lately transported to Holland for the potters use…". This supports the suggestion that many of the disused pits in this area are former clay quarries. It appears that these industries had ceased to exist by the time that Blomefield was writing, which is again consistent with the results of the trial trenching, which revealed little evidence for significant industrial activity after the 17th century.
P. Watkins (HES), 22 November 2018.

October 2018-February 2019. Excavation.
This final phase of work revealed four kilns, along with pits containing large quantities of waste from early post-medieval pottery production.
Full details to be added.
P. Watkins (HES), 23 March 2021.