Nature site gets fired up about replica Roman kiln

11 hours ago

Alex PopeNorthamptonshire

News image — Work to build the full-scale Roman updraft kiln has been funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund

Stanwick Lakes A stone Roman replica kiln, showing stones put together and some of the stones burnt. There are smaller stones on the ground. — Work to build the full-scale Roman updraft kiln has been funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund

After months of hard work from its volunteers, a nature reserve is getting ready to fire up its replica Roman pottery kiln to visitors.

Stanwick Lakes built the full-scale updraft structure alongside archaeologist Derek Roberts using archaeological evidence from the Nene Valley in Northamptonshire.

Roberts said it will "give us our first opportunity to collect data and build a real understanding of how fire and heat need to be managed to produce our first-ever attempt at fumed ware".

As part of its Heritage Build Weekend, which takes place on Saturday and Sunday, a new wooden jetty has also been constructed at the site's Bronze Age boat yard.

Rockingham Forest Trust, the charity that runs the site, said the two major heritage projects were "another step towards bringing Stanwick's past to life".

It added that the weekend event is part of the ongoing "From Iron to Empire" project, exploring the Late Iron Age and Roman heritage of the Nene Valley through hands-on archaeology, reconstruction and community involvement.

Stanwick Lakes About 10 Roman pots made, and laid on a table. They have not been fired yet, and have some patterns on them. — A number of replica Roman pots have been made by volunteers

Teams will test how the kiln performs, with pottery that has been made for the occasion, so more can be learnt about Roman pottery production.

Nadia Norman, heritage coordinator at Stanwick Lakes, said: "Both projects have involved a huge amount of hard work from our volunteers, who have given their time, energy and enthusiasm to help bring them to life.

"To be at the stage to see the Roman kiln finally ready to fire for the first time is a brilliant moment."

Dr James Dilley, who worked on the jetty project, said: "It's brilliant to bring another chapter of the Big Bronze Age Boat Build at Stanwick Lakes to life, as we continue building towards bringing the prehistoric history of the Nene Valley back to life."