Medieval Pottery Kiln, Newport Memorial Hall

Summary description and reason for designation

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument.

The monument consists of the remains of a pottery kiln, structure, composed of oven and hovel, used for the firing of pottery ware. The site was discovered in 1921 during the construction of the Newport Memorial Hall and the foundations were modified so that the better of the kiln bases was preserved within a basement beneath the stage. The site consists of a rubble stone flue with a depressed arched vault leading to the kiln. This has a clay platform laid on slate slabs and a circular stone super structure, 2 metres in diameter, with a total of 37 square vents passing through the walls of the kiln base. This is the best preserved medieval kiln known in Wales and its products have been found in excavations throughout Dyfed. The kiln has been backfilled with a loose fill and access can be gained via the basement meeting room in the Memorial Hall.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of pottery manufacturing techniques and processes. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits. The structure itself may be expected to contain archaeological information concerning chronology and building techniques.

The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.