The history of Clophill, Bedfordshire, UK
Including historical descriptions, maps and statistical analysis.
The history of Clophill, Bedfordshire, UK
Including historical descriptions, maps and statistical analysis.
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In a Conveyance of 1714 it says "next old Tile kiln within Knives"
On the 1716 enclosure map there is a field called Nives.
On the aerial photo graph the field boundary is still visible.
Move your mouse pointer over the map to see an overlay.
Next to Nives is an old clay pit, now filled in and covered with trees, which could have supplied the material for the bricks and tiles.
Brick Kiln Close
The 1719 Wrest Park estate map shows Tile Kiln Close to the north of what is now Old Kiln Lane. And the terrier shows that the tenant was John Day.
John Day
Here it is superimposed on a modern map. The boundary on the west side still exists.
Tile Kiln Close
If you are passing 6 Old Kiln Lane look at the high level of the ground to the north and the steep drop into the garden.
The cross-section shows how the profile has been changed by the removal of soil. This was probably a quarry to extract soil for brickmaking as there is some overlying clay in the field behind. It was probably excavated until the Greensand was reached.
A lot of tile fragments have been found in the circled area.
It looks like there was a tile kiln somewhere in the south west corner of "Tile Kiln Close", which is behind 6 Old Kiln Lane, and the clay was extracted from what is now the curtilage of 6 Old Kiln Lane.
The 1826 Inclosure map shows two areas named "Tile Kiln Field"
Why such a large area should be called this is unclear.
In a field (which is now Kiln Farm) are the outlines of what look like long narrow buildings.
Buildings
The OS map shows the same area north of Old Kiln Lane
Move your mouse pointer over the map to see an overlay.
Most of the field boundaries still exist.
Buildings from 1826 map superimposed on modern aerial photo
