Roman kiln discovered as school redeveloped

Work at Norton Primary School was halted when North Yorkshire County Council’s contractors discovered the kiln, complete with pottery fragments.

The find represents the most significant discovery of its kind in the area since 1948, when another kiln from the Roman era was unearthed.

Pupils have now visited the site of the excavation to see the vast amounts of pottery recovered from the latest find.

The kiln has been fully excavated and will be reconstructed elsewhere as it was not possible to preserve it on site.

A Roman fort occupied the north side of the River Derwent at Malton and during work on previous extensions at the school, contractors had come across Roman, medieval and post-medieval pottery.

The new development, which will also create extra teaching space, is on track to finish in October.