Field of dreams

There was even evidence of the thirsty work it must have been working the hot kiln '“ two flagons which probably contained beer were found in the stoking area, where they had been abandoned the last time it was fired, in the 14th century.

Worthing Archaeology Society members spent two weeks excavating the site, in a field at Church Farm, opposite the Black Horse pub at Binsted, near Arundel.

The discovery is important because there is no evidence of brick or tile production in Britain between the end of the Roman era and the 13th century, so the Binsted site is likely to be among the first of a "new wave" of pottery manufacturing centres in England.

Nearby Tortington Priory, Tortington Parish Church, and other ecclesiastical buildings in the Arundel area, possibly including the Archbishop's Palace at Slindon, may have been among its customers.

Research has even revealed the name of the kiln's owner, Thatcher, which shows up on poll tax returns from 1350. As the emerging tile industry began to replace thatch, he no doubt adapted to the changing technology and switched to the new method of roofing.

"This is a very exciting site, and it has been fascinating working here," said society member Peter Skilton, of Angmering. Teachers, a post office worker, a retired policeman, a computer specialist and a social services employee are among the volunteer members of the society's Slindon-based field archaeology unit which took part in the dig.

The field was chosen because, almost 40 years ago, two founder members of the society found pottery kilns, dating from around the 13th or 14th century, during excavations in the grounds of a nearby house. In 2000, 26 test pits were dug around the field, revealing large quantities of pottery and other artefacts.

Further surveys, using a resistivity meter to show up features beneath the surface, highlighted two areas of possible interest. One produced nothing, the other cut the corner of the kiln which has now been excavated.

It's thought that a temporary kiln was first built on the site to produce the tiles, which were then used to make a permanent, arch-like structure. Beneath this was lit the fire, while above it, the tiles were placed to be fired, enclosed in the upper part of the kiln.

As well as removing more than half a ton of waste tiles from the kiln, the archaeologists found artefacts including two silver pennies, probably from Edward Ist's reign, and an attractive, green-glazed decorative roof tile.

The excavations were recorded in great detail by the society's archaeological illustrator Bob Turner. The site has now been carefully back-filled and it's hoped a full record of the dig will be published as well as being lodged with Worthing Museum.