Ipswich UAD child record record IPS 1180 - Oven 0111

The oven sealed articulated skeleton remains of Period III date, and comprised a clay structure measuring in excess of 2.5m from north to south by over 1.5m from east to west. Initial clearance of the structure involved the removal of what appeared to be the remains of a collapsed roof, suggesting that the northern end of the structure at least was covered. Although it is difficult to surmise exactly how it functioned, as much of the southern end had been removed by later disturbances, it seems likely that a domed oven containing a flue was located at the northern end of the structure, connected, by possibly more than one chamber, to a heat source provided by wood fires at the south end. Certainly the majority of the surviving carbonized wood was located towards this end, suggesting the source of the heat. The oven had been relined on three occasions and a series of surfaces covered in soot had built up during the working life of the structure. Whilst it is not possible to be completely certain of its use, it would seem most likely that this had been a bread oven, associated with a property £ranting Westgate Street, (S1).