More information : A Roman updraught kiln of rectangular construction, comparable with
Grimes's type III (Grimes says that such kilns could be used for
either tiles or pottery), was excavated in 1966 at TQ 7173 6047,
after being exposed by bulldozing operations. Detsicas describes it
as a tilery and infers from the fact that tiles were used in its
construction that an earlier tile kiln must have existed in the
vicinity. Finds were not plentiful, consisting almost entirely of
coarse pottery, some stratified and dating the kiln's use to circa
AD 180-290. Only one tile - an imbrex - is reported apart from those
actually used in the construction of the kiln. The site is now
concreted over. Industrial work at TQ 718 605 resulted in 1972 in the
discovery of a large pit filled with pottery wasters, and mechanical
stripping of the level area above the pit revealed that a medieval
tile kiln dated to the mid C13 by tiles used in its construction had
been built there, evidently cut into the slope of the ground in an
area which had been used to deposit the waste-products of Romano-
British pottery manufacture, for it was surrounded by enormous
quantities of wasters of types hitherto considered only as imports
from the continent, mainly Hofheim type flagons, but also including
early colour-coated wares, terra nigra platters and other forms
imitating Gallo-Belgic wares, mortaria, carinated bowls, butt beakers
etc. Stratified Samian from this material supports a closing date of
circa AD 70 for this activity, and large scale pottery manufacture by
the owner of the Eccles villa (TQ 76 SW 10) is suggested, supplying
the greatly expanding market following the Roman conquest. The volume
of the industry was probably due to the demand represented by the
invading Roman army; the preponderance of Hofheim-type flagons in the
waste deposit is at least a pointer to the possibility of an army
contract. This would help to explain the involvement of the army in
the building of the first bath-house of the villa. The kilns
connected with the early pottery industry have not been located(1-4)
Siting of the kiln at TQ 71736047 was confirmed by the foreman of the
yard now occupying the situation. (5)
TQ 7175 6047 approx. Claudio-Neronian kiln at Eccles. Range of
products found may imply supply to military consumers via the river
Medway. (6)
Additional bibliography (not consulted). (7-9)
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