| Summary : The remains of Grimscar Roman tilery situated in Grimscar Woods, 2 kilometres north west of the centre of Huddersfiled. Limited excavations have confirmed that the site retains evidence of a series of kilns, stoke holes, areas of kiln rakings and tile and waster dumps. Although small scale excavation of the site in 1955/56 and 1964 revealed only one kiln, it is clear from tile dumps and kiln rakings (found some distance from the excavated kiln) that further kilns lie in the area. The findings from the Grimscar excavations consist mainly of roof, flue, floor and Voussoir tiles, some of which were stamped with 'COH IIII BRE'. Roof tiles stamped with the same markings were recovered from the nearby Roman fort and bath house at Slack. Some pottery was also produced at the site. The types recovered can be dated to the first and second century AD. The stamped tiles bear witness to the fact that the Grimscar tiler was a military establishment operated by the Fourth Cohort of the Breuci. The site produced building material and pottery used at Slack Roman Fort and bath house, located about 4 kilometres west of Grimscar. The operation of the tilery would have coincided with the Trajanic and Hadrianic reconstructions at Slack. An enlargement of the bath house in the Hadrianic period would have required large quantities of tile. Such a clear relationship between a tilery and the users of its product is unusual. Scheduled. |
More information : [SE 13031901] ROMAN TILE KILN [GS] (site of). (1)
Roman tile-kilns were found by charcoal-burners in Grimscar
Wood in 1590(a). In Nov.1955 schoolboys found Roman pottery and
tiles, and preliminary excavations were conducted by Miss A.
Maltby when pottery wasters were found denoting the manufacture
of pottery as well as tiles. The site was some 400 yds. east
of the modern road to Outlane, in a little side valley south
of the main clough. The site produced the well known stamped
tiles used at Castleshaw and Slack c. A.D.104. (2-4)
Excavations, aimed at clearing the previously unexcavated
portions and the general tidying up of the site, were carried out
in April 1964, by the Tolson Memorial Museum, Huddersfield.
A portion of a stoke pit was uncovered, having at least two
floors. Finds of tiles, pottery sherds, pieces of burnt clay
lining and a stacking cone are now in the museum. (5)
The site is marked by a shallow ground depression, in an area
still strewn in places with broken tile and brick. (6)
SE 131191 In 1964 a complete dump of tile debris, portions
of two other dumps and the partially disturbed stoke hole of a
kiln were excavated. The tilery operated to provide building
material for the two phases of reconstruction of the nearby
fort at Slack in about AD 100 and 120. Products were roofing
tiles, with some tegulae stamped COH IIII BRE, hypocaust
elements and pottery cooking pots, jars, bowls and flagons. (7)
Additional reference. (8) |