Monument record TQ 65 NW 74 - Medieval tile-kiln at Addington

(TQ) 638588. A substantially complete medieval tile-kiln was excavated in May 1970 prior to its destruction by road works. It was located in the centre of the west-bound carriageway of the M20 extension, from Aylesford to Wrotham Heath. The site of the kiln lay in what had been an open field in the parish of Addington about one mile west of St Margaret's Church (TQ 65 NE 12). The kiln had been built into a gentle south facing slope, and had double chambers, tile built walls and arched flues, all typical features of medieval tile kilns in Kent. No trace of any other structure was noted in the immediate area, though the whole of the area to the north had already been removed by the scraping machines. A light scatter of roof tile, similiar to that in the kiln strucure was found for at least 80 ft to the south, 50 ft to the east, 30 ft tothe west and for a minimum of 10 ft to the north. At a point about 36ft south of the kiln centre the machines had revealed a mixed deposit of brown loam, sandstone rubble, roof tile and carbon. Apart from being at least 2 ft deep its limits were not determined owing to the presence of dumps of soil. It may have represented the fill of a claypit adjacent to the kiln. Several small potsherds associated with this material seem to be from vessels of 13th or 14th century date. (1)

<1> KAR 50 1977 237-9 illus (B Philp) (OS Card Reference). SKE45356.