Material associated with either a bloomery furnace or smithing hearth (forge) was found near the rear boundary of 1 Forge Farm Cottages in 2018 and 2019. Charcoal from a large midden deposit was RadioCarbon dated to c. AD 1470-1640.Grog-tempered pottery, burnt clay and slag were found underneath the layer of charcoal, and may be contemporary or earlier in date. The pottery in particular was provisionally thought to be 2nd - 3rd Century Romano-British. (1-3)

Another pot sherd was found in 2019 and identified at probably Iron Age. Also found were worked stone artefacts, which the report suggests may be anvils, and more bloomery slag and furnace lining. (4)

<1> WKD Archaeology, 2018, Review Of Carbon Analysis (C14) Of Material From 1 Forge Farm Cottage, Southborough (Unpublished document). SKE52269.

<2> WKD Archaeology, 2018, Site Appraisal – 1 Forge Farm Cottage, Southborough: ‘Evaluation Of A Series Of Wattle & Daub Structures Within The Southborough Valley’ (Unpublished document). SKE52270.

<3> WKD Archaeology, 2018, Site Appraisal – 1 Forge Farm Cottage, Southborough: ‘Evaluation Of A Series Of Wattle & Daub Structures Within The Southborough Valley’ (Unpublished document). SKE52270.

<4> WKD Archaeology, 2019, End Of Season Review 2019: 1 Forge Farm Cottage (FFC19), Southborough - A Series Of Wattle & Daub Structures Of Possible Iron Age Origin (Unpublished document). SKE52290.