The roundel, Kent and Sussex

The development of the round kiln, called a roundel (the fourth of the five types described earlier), is the subject of this chapter (Fig 10.1). The popularity of the round kiln coincided with the rise of Kent and Sussex to pre-eminence among the hop growing regions. Kent’s share of national hop production went from 43% in 1810 to 65% in 1878.¹ There were round kilns in Herefordshire/Worcestershire and Surrey/Hampshire, but they were not as widespread as in the South East. The style and design of a new oast or hop kiln reflected the preferences of individual hop farmers and local