Watching Brief at Waterloo Kiln, Swinton

Purpose of monitoring - Archaeological monitoring was carried out at Waterloo Kiln during ground clearance and the reduction of existing ground level around the kiln, prior to the installation of a new visitor path. The monitoring was carried out to ensure that no in-situ archaeological deposits were disturbed or removed without being recorded. The archaeological works were required in order to fulfil recommendations made by Historic England in regard to the scheme of repair works on the kiln. Historic England acted in an advisory capacity, and the conditions were not associated with any planning application or development. Overview - The archaeological watching brief comprised the monitoring of the reduction of existing ground level for a circa 2m radius around the kiln structure. The ground reduction was undertaken in order to create a level, safe access circular path around the kiln and the work was undertaken by the specialist contractor, Keystone Yorkshire Ltd, using a tracked mini-digger operating under archaeological supervision. Ground reductions were excavated to a maximum depth of 250mm and involved the clearance of vegetation and deposits of modern silt and detritus (100) that had accumulated around the kiln. Discussion The groundworks monitoring at Waterloo Kiln uncovered several features of archaeological interest. These were clustered on the eastern side of the kiln, where the existing ground level was highest and where there appears to have been less disturbance. In contrast, the existing ground level on the southern and western sides of the kiln was appreciably lower and some ground clearance or reduction may have occurred here in the past. Part of a brick working surface or floor 101 was identified on the eastern side of the kiln. This appeared to be contemporary with the working life of the kiln and extended further to the east and north, beyond the limit of the current groundworks. The other features identified included a later fragment of floor 103, a brick-lined pit 108 and two concrete surfaces 102 and 104. None of these features appeared to relate to the working life of the kiln and it is likely that they relate to the conversion of the kiln into an isolation hospital, or to later post-use consolidation of the structure. Conclusion The archaeological watching brief encountered several archaeological features which together give further insight into the working life and subsequent use of the kiln structure. Disturbance to the archaeology was kept to the absolute minimum required for the development and the majority of the exposed features will be preserved in-situ.