Monument record TQ 67 SW 1800 - Malting oven discovered at Northfleet Roman Villa

The Northfleet malting oven, which dated after c AD 350 and was one of the latest structures in the villa complex and represented a significant technological advance for maltsters. The structure was
used to generate moisture to encourage germination. Heated subsequently, it dried the grain to arrest germination and allowed greater control of temperature, permitting variation of flavour. The rectangular structure measured 4 m by 3 m. The external wall was built with ragstone and occasional flint and chalk. An internal wall was built parallel to the north side to create a flue 3.50 m long and up to 0.50 m wide. This was also ragstone-built. A stoke-pit, almost 2 m in diameter, joined the flue at its east end. Ashy deposits that formed on the floor of the structure accumulated during its use. The primary fill in the main chamber contained an extraordinarily rich assemblage of germinated grain, detached embryos, and sprouts, which must have resulted from malting. (1)

<1> Oxford Wessex Archaeology Joint Venture, 2010, Settling the Ebbsfleet Valley. CTRL Excavations at Springhead and Northfleet, Kent. The Late Iron Age, Roman, Saxon, and Medieval Landscape (Monograph). SKE31245.