ERN 99 - Northallerton, North Yorks

Ceramic Building Materials

By S Garside-Neville

Introduction

Sixty-nine bricks, plus other fragments and roof tile, were submitted for examination. Some of the bricks had been covered in mortar, but this was removed by the excavator to facilitate examination by the specialist

Post medieval material

After the Roman period, the manufacturing of bricks became routine again probably around the 14^th century onwards. Handmade bricks, often fired in temporary clamp kilns, were still common well into the 19^th century, particularly in rural areas. These bricks are often unevenly fired, and vary greatly in size. However, it is possible to suggest broad dates, taking into account legislation, and regional variations. The size of the ERN99 handmade bricks, when compared to 18^th century data from York, makes it impossible to discern if they are 18^th or 19^th century in date.

Particular traits of the ERN 99 bricks include a sanded or gritted base, (some with grog added) and a bow mark – where the maker has used a wire bow to cut off excess clay from the top of the mould. Along with slop moulding (where the brick mould is dipped in water before the clay is thrown in), these are common features of post medieval from brick in nearby York. There are several different fabrics, perhaps pointing to bricks being brought in from different areas or different local brickyards.

Machine-made bricks were introduced from around the middle of the 19^th century. The large holes in several examples perhaps facilitate the even firing of the bricks. The very even firing also points to a well-controlled permanent kiln.

Phasing

Phase 4.1

308

The dating of this brick is uncertain due to not have a complete length, but it is certainly post medieval.

Phase 4.2

300

These bricks are machine made and are comfortably dated to the Victorian period (mid to late 19^th century)

315, 316, 317, 319, 322, 323, 331, 332, 333, 334

315, 316, 322, and 333 are Victorian in date. The others can only be suggested as being 18th-19^th century. One brick from 317 has a sooted stretcher, which probably means contact with a fire. Another from 333 has a white washed stretcher. Maybe this building housed a boiler.

1239, 1241, 1242, 1252, 1253, 1254, 1261, 1313

1261 is definitely Victorian. The other contexts can only be assigned to the 18^th-19^th century.

1281, 1290, 1303, 1304

1281, 1303, 1304 are Victorian in date. 1290 has a bevelled brick, presumably especially made for a particular purpose.

1536, 1541, 1590

1536 contains a field drain of the horseshoe type, which is probably early to mid 19^th century. The other contexts have a mixture of 18^th-19^th and definitely 19^th century bricks.

Conclusions

The bricks are a mixture of different types indicated by varied methods of manufacture and different fabrics. The structures that they were part of may not be of high status, as the bricks are not of great quality for the most part.

References

Betts I M, 1985. A Scientific investigation of the brick and tile industry of York to the mid-eighteenth century. Bradford University (unpublished PhD thesis)

Context Listing Table

Key

Cxt = Context L = Compete length B = Complete breadth

T = Complete Thickness FH = Complete Flange Height

Date range = date range of form Date = estimated date of context

* = only minimum measurement available

NB: This list indicates only forms present and any variations (such as slag attached, or pawprints). It does not list every fragment of CBM

Cxt	Form	L	B	T	Comments	Date range	Date
300	Brick	203*	116	67	Machine made; 1 hole (of 2) in top	M19th-L19th	M19th-L19th
300	Brick	230	109	78	Machine made; dense fabric; abraded	M19th-L19th
308	Brick		113	53	Slop moulded, bow and straw marks	16^th+
315	Brick	221	111	75	Mortar; machine made; two holes on top surface; groove on base?	M19th-L19th	M19th-L19th
316	Brick	237	115	76	Two punched holes on top/bottom surface; wire cut or extruded; abraded	M19th-L19th	M19th-L19th
317	Brick	240	111	52	Slop moulded; sooted stretcher	18th-19th	19th
317	Brick	240	112	68	Slop moulded; mortar on header	19th
319	Brick	235	109	59	Slop moulded; grass marks on base; roughly moulded; ?finger mark on header; abraded	18th-19th	18th-19th
319	Brick	235	116	55	Slop moulded	18th-19th	18th-19th
322	Brick	219	110	57	Slop moulded; possible animal /finger prints on upper surface	18th-19th	M19th-L19th
322	Brick	225	110	76	Machine made	M19th-L19th
323	Brick	225	116	61	Slop moulded; grass marks on base; roughly moulded; slightly blown	18th-19th	18th-19th
323	Brick	230	117	55	Slop moulded; overfired; roughly moulded	18th-19th
331	Brick	244	111	56	Mortar; trimmed edge; gritty base; bow mark	18th-19th	18th-19th
332	Brick	228*	112	55	Reused; slop moulded; bow mark on base	18th-19th	18th-19th
332	Brick	242	108	54	Slop moulded; ?bow mark on base; occasional grass marks	18th-19th
333	Brick	215*	117	70	Reused; ¾ brick; slop moulded; sanded base; uneven moulding; reduced core; truncated header to make same length as other brick in this context sample?	19th	19th
333	Brick	219	114	63	White-washed stretcher; slop moulded; sanded (and grogged?) base; bow mark on base	18th-19th	18th-19th
334	Brick	227	111	66	Occasional straw marks; slop moulded; bow mark base	19th	19th
334	Brick	245	117	58	Abraded; soft fired; abraded stretcher; bow marks on base; slop moulded	18th-19th
352	Pan			17	Machine made	19^th	19th
375	Brick	180*	110	53*		18th-19th	18th-19th
401	Brick				Post med	16^th+	18th-19th
401	Brick			60	Slop moulded?; gritty base	18th-19th
401	Brick			46*		14^th+
443	Brick			61	Slop moulded	18th-19th	18th-19th
669	Brick				Overfired; post medieval	16^th+	16^th+
800	Brick?				Post medieval; refined fabric	19th	19th
816	Pan			17		17^th+	17^th+
972	Pan			16	Overfired	17^th+	17^th+
1038	Pan?				Small fragment	17^th+	17^th+
1239	Brick	240	115	56	Slop moulded; abraded; straw marks	18th-19th	18th-19th
1239	Brick	232	117	59	Mortar; slop moulded; uneven	18th-19th
1239	Brick	217	112	55	Mortar; slop moulded; abraded header	18th-19th
1241	Brick	245	121	59	Mortar; slop moulded; bow marks; overfired header with limewash	18th-19th	18th-19th
1241	Brick	246	120	60	Mortar; slop moulded; uneven; fine sand base; straw marks	18th-19th
1242	Brick	238	107	60	Mortar; slop moulded; sandy base	18th-19th	18th-19th
1242	Brick	228	116	65	Slop moulded; straw marks on base; flow marks	18th-19th
1242	Brick	230	114	54	Mortar; slop moulded; overfired header	18th-19th
1242	Brick	235	114	58	Mortar; slop moulded; fine sand on base	18th-19th
1252	Brick	202*	118	60	Mortar; ¾ brick; ?mortar on broke edge - ?reused; unevenly moulded	18th-19th	18th-19th
1252	Brick	239	112	59	Mortar; slop moulded; worm impressions	18th-19th
1253	Brick	220	110	65	Slop moulded; bow mark; gritted base; straw marks	18th-19th	18th-19th
1253	Brick	226	112	59	Mortar; slop moulded; gritty base	18th-19th
1253	Brick	220	109	60	Slop moulded; bow marks; gritty base	18th-19th
1253	Brick	224	113	59	Slop moulded; bow marks; overfired; blown	18th-19th
1254	Brick	190*	115	70	Mortar; c ¾ of length; slop moulded; bow mark; reused