Monument record MWX952 - Possible salt making hearths and ovens, Carter's Tile Works, Hamworthy, Poole

Three clay hearths or ovens associated with briquetage were found during excavations at Carter's Tile works in 1926-8. These may have been associated with salt making.

A Romano-British pottery kiln, as well as Iron Age and Romano-British pottery, were located by Smith during excavations in 1926-8 at Messrs. Carter & Co Floor Tile Works,Hamworthy. The kiln was 2 feet 4 inches in external diameter, 1 foot 6inches in internal diameter, and 1 foot 3 inches deep, and was associated with kiln debris and fragments of charcoal. It is probable that the kiln had little use.

The base of the kiln was 0.3 m (1 foot) thick and constructed of yellow clay. It had apparently been built into the fill of a ditch. It was found in association with significant quantities of briquetage, which suggests it may have been used in salt making. Two other clay hearths or ovens associated with briquetage were also found near by. <1>

Sited by the excavator at SZ 00269039. <2>

An oven, not a pottery kiln. <3>

<1> H P Smith, 1930, Occupation of the Hamworthy Peninsula in the Late Celtic and Romano-British Periods, p95-123 photos, Plans (Article in serial). SWX3194.

<2> Colquhoun, F D, Field Investigators Comments FDC, F1 FDC 07-DEC-51 (Unpublished document). SWX2609.

<2.1> Smith, H P, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments: H P Smith FSA (Verbal communication). SWX3246.

<3> Farrar, R A H, Letter, R Farrar, 14.8.69 (Unpublished document). SWX3721.

<4> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 603-4 (Monograph). SDO150.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 458275 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Mar 2 2022 2:14PM