First Kiln

Here are the references that Cox found,.

Tile and possible brick kiln north of village to north of Kiln Farm.

Date	Source	Comment
1619	BHRS Vol 20 (1938) p83	Inventory – William Burden “A Claphill (ie Clophill) tyle kill – “
1630	Will ABP/W 1631/208	William Nodden, brickmaker
1655	Conveyance L4/53	“road to Clophill tile kiln” “’tile kill’ way”
1656	Conveyance L4/38-9	“lease 27-11-1656 to Rbt. Heath of 1 tilekiln”
1660	Will ABP/W 1660/28	Trustram Heath, brickmaker
1678	Will ABP/W 1689/63	Thomas Water of Clayhill, brickmaker. Died 1689
1686	Bond X520/258	John Waters of Clophill, brickmaker”
1711	Settlement W1690	“On the marriage of Edward Hurst and Eliz., daughter of John Water (dcd) of Clophill, brickmaker”
1714	Conveyance L4/129-130	“next old Tile kiln within Knives”
1719	BPR XXI B39	Marriage 5 th November 1719. Charles Harrish (Harris) brickmaker married Mary Day.
1740	ABP/W 1740-1/92	Charles Harrice [Harris] brickmaker 13^th November 1740
1740	BPR XXI	Burial 18 th November 1740 Charles Harris “brick kill”
1746	L26/295-296	Memorandums about Mr Goodman’s farm “then Harris house & close £??kiln??”
1746	L4/386	“the brick kiln is not to be used or sublet by tenant but may be used by landlord”
1747	Admission BS 343	Rich Hitchin “non-payment of £200” “Tile kiln field” No mention of brickmaker!

Cox said "Burden's Will in 1619 mentions "At Clophill Tylekill, houses or ground, ware sold not paid for, ware ready made not sold, .....hurlocke, woode & other stock for the kill." In 1692 and 1714 there are references to "Tilekiln close, next old tile kiln" suggesting perhaps that one site was then redundant. It may be the kiln had then been moved to a site at about NGR: TL 085 388. This assumes that "Harris Close", which in 1746 may have included a kiln, can be equated with "Charles close" on the Enclosure Map of 1826 (See Charles Harris under Op, above). Certainly considerable amounts of tile have been turned up in this field. See also G51 immediately below."

Last updated: 8 April, 2006