Cotes Road Barrow-upon-Soar Leicestershire

In August 2005, Oxford Archaeology (OA) carried out a twenty-three
trench archaeological field evaluation on land between Cotes Road and
Willow Way, Barrow-Upon-Soar, Leicestershire (NGR SK 5740 1838) on
behalf of John Samuels Archaeological Consultants. The investigation was
carried out in advance of a proposed housing development scheme by
David Wilson Homes Ltd. and Miller Homes Ltd. Early Iron Age ditches
indicate possible settlement of this date in the vicinity, although no
structural remains were discovered. The remains of medieval `sod kilns’
were revealed beneath the medieval ploughsoil in two trenches. The
remains of a complex of five `Pot kilns’ and track-ways depicted on OS
maps of the 1880s were identified to the centre of the site. These are postmedieval
in date, as were the remains of rectangular `Pye kilns’ found in
other trenches. Many of the trenches were cut through previously infilled
stone quarries and clay pits. Historically the area was used for limestone
and clay quarrying, and historical records indicate an area of industrial
activity here from the medieval period to the 19th century.