Record Details

NHER Number:3391
Type of record:Monument
Name:Blackborough End Roman kiln, Sandy Lane

Summary

The remains of a Roman pottery kiln were discovered during the development of the site, and the kiln was salvage excavated. The kiln produced Nar Valley ware, and was probably active in the 3rd century. Blackborough End was the focus of settlement in this area during the Roman period, and evidence of several other Roman industrial activities has been found in the surrounding area. Roman pottery, metal working debris, a coin and a potter's stamp have been found on the site, as well as Late Saxon, medieval and post medieval pottery. A further excavation was carried out by the NAU in 1991, but only a fragment of medieval pottery was recovered. The Roman pottery kiln is believed to survive below the floor of the garage of 'Kiln House'.

Images - none

Location

Grid Reference:TF 663 150
Map Sheet:TF61NE
Parish:MIDDLETON, WEST NORFOLK, NORFOLK

Full description

1961.
Roman sherds found.

1967.
Roman sherds found.

1989.
Roman kiln excavated and preserved. Slag and medieval finds also.
The results of this work are summarised in (S5).
Finds recovered during this work were donated to the King's Lynn Museum, along with part of the kiln structure (KLLM : 1992.649).

1990. Surface finds.
Roman, Late Saxon, medieval, post medieval sherds, Roman coin and stamp.

Aril 1991. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development area in north-west part of site.
Produced only one medieval sherd.
See report (S1) for further details.
A. Cattermole (NLA), 29 June 2005. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 13 August 2019.

See full details and (S2) to (S4) in file
E. Rose (NLA) 6 November 1991.

September 2007. ALSF NHER Enhancement Sub-Unit D.
The discovery of a Romano-British pottery kiln making Nar Valley Ware at Blackborough End, Middleton, extends the known production area of this ware. The main Nar Valley kiln sites are at Shouldham and Pentney, but the existence of a number of smaller workshops like that at Middleton may be suspected.
Information from (S2).
M. Dennis (NLA), 20 September 2007.

Monument Types

  • FINDSPOT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • POTTERY KILN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Associated Finds

  • ANIMAL REMAINS (Undated)
  • LATCHLIFTER (Undated)
  • NAIL (Undated)
  • COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • METAL WORKING DEBRIS (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • POT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • POT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • POTTERS STAMP (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • POT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • POT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Protected Status - none

Sources and further reading

---Map: Finder's Map..
---Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
---Archive: Gurney, D.. 1989. Excavation plans and sections for Blackborough End Roman Kiln.
---Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Roman. Middleton.
---Secondary File: Secondary File.
---Slide: Various. Slide.
---Collection: Norfolk Historic Environment Record Staff. 1975-[2000]. HER Record Notes. Norfolk Historic Environment Service.
---Photograph: EZS 1-34.
<S1>Unpublished Contractor Report: Penn, K. 1991. Report of Archaeological Evaluation at Home Farm Lodge, Blackborough End. Norfolk Archaeological Unit. 39.
<S2>Article in Serial: Gurney, D. 1990. A Romano-British Pottery Kiln at Blackborough End, Middleton. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XLI Pt I pp 83-92.
<S3>Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1989. Rare kiln makes way for home. 3 May.
<S4>Newspaper Article: Lynn News. 1990. Split-level with kiln. 5 June.
<S5>Article in Serial: Gurney, D (ed.). 1990. Excavations and Surveys in Norfolk 1989. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XLI Pt I pp 107-112. p 109.

Related records - none

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