Kiln in Murgasty

An excavation was carried out in a green-field site, N of the medieval church (TS067-004003-) and graveyard (TS067-004008-), in advance of construction of a government office building (Cummins 2000, 203). An E-W orientated kiln structure was cut into the sand subsoil (ibid.). This consisted of a linear flue (L 8.5m; Wth 3.48m; D 1.2m) leading to an elliptical bowl at the E end (ibid.). It was keyhole-shaped in plan (ibid.). The sides were stone-lined, and a single lintel stone was found over the flue (ibid.). The kiln was filled with collapsed sand from the sides of the structure (ibid.). There was a basal, charcoal-rich deposit under the stone lining, which may contain evidence of charred cereal grains, indicative of a corn-drying function (ibid.). There were also small fragments of oxidised limestone in some of the overlying fills, which may suggest a limekiln function (ibid.). Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 16 June 2014