Monument record TQ 96 SW 176 - Post-medieval brickworks, sittingbourne

O.S. 2nd ed. 6" map, sheet 34 NW (1898) shows brickworks. (1)
Site of former Brickworks at Crown Quay, Sittingbourne as shown on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Edition O/S maps. The site has now been developed as a Retail Park on Eurolink Way.

An evaluation was carried out in 2017 which identified a possible brick clamp kiln, brickfield pits containing deposits of early 20th century rubbish, probable burnt brick kiln bases, a metalled road surface, and Victorian and modern rubbish deposits. Extensive truncation was revealed to have taken place to the north of the site, with possible evidence for the reclamation of the foreshore during the Victorian period, suggested (5) to have been carried out to facilitate the expansion of the brickworks. (5)

A strip, map, and sample excavation carried out at the site in 2017 identified a series of walls and brick clamps associated with the brickworks, alongside modern demolition debris. Six clamps were identified in total, their footprints measuring 5-12m by 3-7m. These features were associated with layers of burnt red flint above a layer of compact coarse greensand, above a layer of burnt black material.
A series of wall foundations formed the footprint of one large scale building, divided into four rooms formed by three concrete beams. The floors of the building had been removed in 2010 during the demolition of the structure. "The footings of another building along the northeast truncated… Brick Clamp 6, confirming that the brick clamps pre-dated the construction of the modern buildings
within the industrial complex" (from the original report, 5). (6)

<1> N/A, Kent SMR Quarry Industries Survey, KCC 156 (Chart). SKE6452.

<2> Landmark, Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 map (OS 2nd Edition, 1897-1900): Landmark Epoch 2 (Map). SKE30965.

<3> Landmark, 1907-1923, Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 map (OS 3rd Edition, 1907-1923): Landmark Epoch 3 (Map). SKE30966.

<4> Landmark, Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 map (OS 4th Edition, 1929-1952): Landmark Epoch 4 (Map). SKE30967.

<5> Swale and Thames Archaeological Survey Company, 2018, Archaeological Evaluation Of Land At Crown Quay, Sittingbourne, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE56584.

<6> Swale & Thames Archaeological Survey Company, 2018, Archaeological Strip, Map and Sample Excavation of Land at Crown Quay, Sittingbourne, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE56320.