Trent & Peak Archaeology / The University of Nottingham

8 Castle Gate   CE3 Malt Kilns   From the early 13th century malting was one of Nottingham’s main trades.  So far 28 medieval malting caves have been discovered in Nottingham. Deering writing in 1751 mentions Nottingham’s malting caves describing them as ‘subterraneous Malt Rooms’.  He states that ‘In these they will make Malt as kindly in the Heat of Summer, as above ground in the best time of Winter’.  Nottingham’s sandstone caves maintained a constant temperature throughout the year.  It is thought the medieval malting process would have taken place as follows: 1) Grains of barley or wheat were ‘steeped’ in the cistern with water from the adjacent well 2) The grains were then taken to the germination cave and spread out across the cave floor 3) As the barley began to sprout they were taken to the kiln, spread out across the timber joists and roasted slowly by the fire below.   Burning material for the fire was fed through into the kiln through the stokehole.    Primary deposits recovered from the bottom of the privy pit at 8 Castle Gate suggest that the malting complex was almost certainly in use by the middle of the 13th century.  The assemblage consisted of jugs and cooking pots dating to somewhere between 1230 and 1250.  The privy continued to be filled with debris until it was abandoned in the early 17th century.