Kiln — pottery in Townparks (2nd Division - Tuam)

In the course of a watching brief (Licence No. 92E00181) undertaken as part of the Tuam main drainage scheme in 1992-3 a pottery kiln was discovered on the north side of High Street. The kiln 'was constructed of hand-made red brick, with a small, retaining wall of limestone at its southern end. It survives to a maximum height of 0.65m and measures 3.9m north-south and 1.74m east-west. The proximity of the kiln to the arch and more especially, to the wall on the west side of it, made it impossible to excavate completely, though the east side of the kiln was thoroughly investigated. Excavations revealed the kiln wall was only 200mm thick and there was redeposited clay and stones packed against it on the east side. This suggests the surviving portion of the kiln was built into the old ground surface. Excavation under the kiln show that its northern portion was built directly onto bedrock. The kiln was removed completely.' (Connolly 1992). In relation to the pottery sherds recovered from the kiln Meenan (1996, 106) notes that it was not possible to propose a precise date on the base of form. However, it is suggested that 'the kiln was in production in the 18th century probably having been destroyed when the barracks in High Street was built. The range of milk pans and dish/bowls would be consistent with an 18th century date though it is less likely that they pre-date 1700 or even the first decades of the 18th century.’ (Connolly 1996) Compiled by: Paul Walsh Date of upload: 28 March 2017