The site was identified in 2011 , when Cotswold Archaeology evaluated ground at the Saw Close Clinic and adjacent car park in anticipation of a £ 19m hotel , casino and restaurants development by Deeley Freed Estates . Two apsidal-ended stone structures were revealed , with thousands of clay-pipe fragments . Archaeologists returned in October for full excavation .
The result is the discovery of the floor and foundations of a complete clay-pipe factory , remarkably preserved . Two kiln bases had been dug into the ground , so had survived when the superstructure was demolished . When a health clinic was built in 1927 , the floor was covered in concrete , which archaeologists were able to peel off revealing undisturbed flagstones . Excavation , directed by Simon Sworn and managed by Simon Cox , was informed by archaeologists and tobacco-pipe specialists Mark Lewcun and Allan Peacey , who both happen to be local .
The kilns were of a developed muffle type . Pipes were fired inside a large cylindrical “ muffle ”, itself made of pipe clay , that rose up within each kiln ’ s single chimney . Clay shipped from Devon would have been moulded and dried on site before the pipes were stacked in the muffles and fired at 900 – 1000 ° c . Pipe tips were glazed after firing ( a few stems from Saw
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The lunch was deliciously catered by Mark Grove and his team at Cook & Butler and we cracked along at a goodly pace . Our guests were admirably introduced by Liveryman Fran Morrison and our Principal Guest , Tim Wonnacott gave a generous and very humorous reply to which I responded initially by drenching poor Tim in a glass of water - he was very kind about it ( sorry Tim !). I was very pleased to show off the newly found Livery Grant of Arms and Letters Patent which have been missing for many years - Images our Clerk Copyright tenaciously of Cotswold sought them Archaeology out , and the new Immediate Past Master , Chris Allen , and his IPM , Mark Gower-Smith have funded a beautiful representation and they are now resplendent in frames
Clay Tobacco Pipe Factory Excavated in Bath
carved with tobacco leaves ( or close to ); Sandra also Clay pipes were once a mainstay of city living , from the smoky located taverns a huge where banner working not seen men since scrimped 1985 for and a beer Angus and a bowl of tobacco , to aristocratic rooms where business Menzies and politics , Clerk were to the settled Master over Mariners draws from and the never long , shy cooling stems . The fashion finally died with the first world of war a , challenge when customers saw it – that mainly it was men displayed – left to fight on the and returned as cigarette smokers . With the pipes went a distinctive Quarterdeck manufacturing . industry . Now rare insights into a factory that operated in Bath in the 18th and 19th centuries will come from a three-month excavation in progress as we go to print .
Whilst all this was going on , apparently biblicalstyle downpours were being had all over London Close - oblivious had been to all coated that drama with lead we glaze ended or our red lunch wax ), and and the trooped pipes back boxed to for the distribution quarterdeck
. A where single Coffee kiln
, could have fired over 7,000 pipes , and the two probably Cigars , and Cognac awaited us ( I did mention that worked over 24 hours in rotation . our Livery enjoyed dining on the High C ’ s ..) and The which noise seemed and smoke to hit from the mark such – intensive Liveryman industry Jemma was the Freeman factory had ’ s downfall kindly provided . The first the recorded torpedo workshop cigars , with and had several had kilns them , was placed built in by souvenir Joseph Smith tubes in with 1782 our . It passed Crest emblazoned through the on hands it . Several of at least of us five also known sported pipemakers a limited , including edition Livery James Smoking Clarke hat 1810 - and originally Joseph Sants conceived , son of as a Portuguese sort of shooting immigrant hat , it , in serves 1835 its . Sants had purpose just built so well two as new a “ team kilns ” hat a , cost that of of £ the 200 twenty when the council ordered ,, responding but one remained to complaints by the from close the of the nearby day ! Bath Thank Commercial you to the Master & Literary Mariners Institution for allowing , a private us the school use of the and venue a rectory , , Tim forced for him being to close a perfect in 1851 Principal .
Gentrification Guest , and for moved everyone Sants attending to another and site giving , but his my old year factory such a , hidden special beneath start . the school playground , survived to tell his tale . The remains will be preserved in situ beneath the new development .
The Master
Mike Pitts Editor British Archaeology
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