Helpston Faggot Ovens
In 1993, Helpston local historian, George Boyden wrote an article about Faggot Ovens, or fragments of them, that had been found in the village.
What was a Faggot Oven?
Faggot ovens were low stone or brick chambers into which tightly tied bundles of thin branches – faggots – were pushed into the cooking chamber, and then set alight. The iron door, which was left open during firing to allow smoke to escape up the chimney, was closed when embers had been withdrawn and cooking was in progress.
Where had they been found?
At the time of the article, four sites had been identified.
1. The end cottage that is now known as Toll Bar Cottage (24 Woodgate). The external stone cladding was dismantled in about 1946. The place where the oven would have been was in the 1920s occupied by an iron range.
2. 24 Maxey Road where the external stone cladding is preserved and there is evidence on the external side wall that an internal chimney breast existed. The internal oven has been dismantled.
3. 14 Maxey Road where an oven exists without a door and there remains evidence of the external dismantled stone cladding.
4. A 1926 photograph presented by Mrs. Phyllis Wilson showed her proudly standing beside her doll’s pram in the rear garden of Home Farm, revealing the external stone cladding of a faggot oven. Although dismantled it can still be detected on the external wall of 15 West Street. The internal chimney breast, shelf, and oven door came to light during renovations and have been preserved by the present owners.
Where have all the faggot ovens gone?
In the mid 19th century, the railway came to Helpston. Coal, being a new commodity in the area, was brought in sizeable quantities and at a price available to the working man. Along with the introduction of the coal-fired iron cooking range, the old wood-fired faggot oven became a thing of the past.
Helpston Manor Court orders took into account the dangers of open fires with so much thatch. As in 1722:- “No person was to fetch fire from any neighbouring house without the same be carried in a Lanthorne (lantern) or Warmingpan, for every offence to pay 0:10:0.”1
1. 10 shillings – approx £90 in 2023
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