A Romano-British Pottery Kiln at Weston Favell, near Northampton

Abstract

The village of Weston Favell is situated on high land to the north of the river Nene, some 2½ miles to the north-east of the centre of Northampton. On the north side of the Wellingborough Road at this point the Northampton Education Committee are erecting the Cherry Orchard School. In April 1953, during the filling in of a disused quarry preparatory to building, one of the writers noticed sherds of Roman pottery in a disturbed patch in the quarry face (Nat. Grid 5237.2819). Further examination disclosed two large burnt stones protruding from it, which proved on excavation to be the cheeks of the stokehole flue of a small pottery kiln.The quarry was some 16 to 18 ft. deep, and had been used to get the local limestone. The field to the south of it shows disturbance of the surface over a considerable area. Overlying the stone hereabouts is an extensive layer of grey clay, which may well have served as the raw material of the potters. It contains pockets of whitish sand similar to that which gives the clay of the local ware its characteristic texture.