Record Details
| NHER Number: | 2382 |
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| Type of record: | Monument |
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| Name: | Site of Walsoken Steam brick and Tile Co. Works, Wisbech Brick Company Works |
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Summary
This is the site of the Walsoken Steam brick and Tile Co. Works which operated in the post medieval period. This works was notable for its two 'Newcastle' kilns, the only known examples to be recorded in Norfolk. In 1868 a Bronze Age socketed axehead was dug up here from a depth of 1.8m.
Images - none
Location
| Grid Reference: | TF 4825 0910 |
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| Map Sheet: | TF40NE |
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| Parish: | WALSOKEN, WEST NORFOLK, NORFOLK |
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Full description
Bronze Age axe and brickyard.
Walsoken Steam brick and Tile Co. Works.
See Norfolk Industrial Archaeology Society survey of brickworks on fiche, which describes two Newcastle kilns, unique in Norfolk.
1868. Stray Find.
Found about 6ft [1.8m] below surface (ground surface approximately 10ft [3.1m] OD or less):
1 Bronze Age copper alloy socketed axehead.
Held by Wisbech Museum.
In B. A. Catalogue.
Information from (S1).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 27 February 2018.
August 1981.
Object could not be found at Wisbech Museum, but it is not the same as the axe from Swaffham as previously suggested (NHER 17404) as BA card index (S2) clearly shows. See copy of card from (S2) in file for further details and outline sketch.
Compiled by A. J. Lawson (NAU) 19 August 1981.
Information from (S3).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 27 February 2018.
October 1981.
Object found at Wisbech Museum.
Labels state it was found 12 October 1868 (not 1808 as originally recorded) and presented to Museum 8 August 1898 by Mrs. R. Bennett of Walsoken, from the William Smith Collection. Object was found in "W. Fevreys Brick pit in a vein of Chaur". Information from Jane L. Arthur, Curator.
See drawing (S4).
Compiled by E. Rose (NAU) 12 October 1981.
Information from (S3).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 27 February 2018.
The brick kilns of Walsoken Steam Brick & Tile Works are marked on 25ins. O.S. map 1927 (S5) and are of the Newcastle variety. As of 1992 it was still believed that these are the only 2 Newcastle type kilns in Norfolk.
The site is now used by Collett's of Wisbech as a construction storage yard.
NIAS records (S6)
W. Arnold HES 10/01/11
Monument Types
- BRICK KILN (Post Medieval to Early 20th Century - 1540 AD to 1927 AD?)
- BRICKWORKS (Post Medieval to Early 20th Century - 1540 AD to 1927 AD?)
- TILE KILN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
Associated Finds
- SOCKETED AXEHEAD (Bronze Age - 2350 BC to 701 BC)
Protected Status - none
Sources and further reading
| --- | Record Card: Ordnance Survey Staff. 1933-1979?. Ordnance Survey Record Cards. TF 40 NE 21 [2]. |
| --- | Secondary File: Secondary File. |
| --- | Fiche: Exists. |
| <S1> | Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Bronze Age. Walsoken. |
| <S2> | Archive: British Museum. 1913 onwards. Bronze Age Index. |
| <S3> | Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card. |
| <S4> | Illustration: Lawson, A. 1982. Drawing of a Late Bronze Age copper alloy socketed axehead. Paper. 1:1. |
| <S5> | Map: Ordnance Survey. 1902-1907. Ordnance Survey Map. 25 inch to the mile. Second Edition. 1:2500. |
| <S6> | Archive: NIAS. Norfolk Industrial Archaeology Society Records. |
Related records - none
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