Kiln

First identified in centre-line testing (00E0379) for the re-alignment of the N25 Wexford town to New Ross road (Elder and Tierney 2002), and completely excavated (00E0476) subsequently. It is situated on a fairly level landscape. A keyhole-shaped kiln consisting of an elaborate drying chamber (int. diam. 2.87m N-S; 2.72m E-W; D 0.7m) that had near vertical sides and a flat base was excavated. It was lined and quartered with double rows (0.2m apart) of contiguous stones in a pattern resembling a ringed cross, which facilitated the even spread of the heat. The flue was a channel (L 4m) extending to the SW, becoming broader (Wth 0.84-2.75m) and shallower with distance from the drying chamber. It was lined with stones, but few remained. A sample from the kiln fill produced a C14 date of cal AD 1450-1650. The working area (WX036-083001-) c. 40m to the SSW may have been contemporary, but the field system recorded as two parallel ditches and parallel furrows is later and probably post-medieval. (Noonan 2002; Noonan and Johnston 2006) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 7 November, 2012