Winchester Clay Pipe Kiln

An archaeological condition was imposed by the Local Planning Authority for an evaluation of two trenches measuring 5m each owing to the known archaeological potential of the area. The purpose of the evaluation was to determine the presence or absence of archaeological features.

Both trenches revealed evidence of clay pipe manufacture. This was deemed to be significant archaeology and the Planning Authority accordingly required a full excavation of the area impacted by the development. 

The excavation revealed the best preserved clay pipe kiln yet discovered in Britain, comprising of three furnaces and a significant number of clay pipes with a variety of designs, some of which can be seen below. 

Evidence from the excavation together with further literary research was able to identify the ownership and developmental history of the site and place it in the wider social context of the decline of clay pipes and the rise in popularity of cigarettes in late Victorian England. 

Groundworks Archaeology was able to mobilise a team of archaeologists in a timely manner allowing the project to progress without causing delay to the overall timetable of the development.