report 23 basing stoke

8/8/2019 Report 23 Basing Stoke

1/6

Post-Roman Pottery from selected sites

in Basingstoke, Hampshire.Ben Jervis Archaeological Report 23

By Ben Jervis MA PIFA

INTRODUCTION

This report summarises the pottery from 3 sites in Basingstoke. All of the sherds are part of the Willis

Museum Old Collection, held by Hampshire County Museums Service. The bulk of the pottery is of

early medieval date, however there are smaller quantities of high, late and post- medieval pottery

present (table 1). The majority of wares can be paralleled either at Brighton Hill (Rees 1995) or

Basing House (Allen and Anderson 1999). The pottery will be characterised by type and then

discussed by site.

Ware SC SW

Max

VC

Wessex Coarseware 1 11 1

Early Medieval Sandy Ware 16 726 5

Flint and Sand Tempered Ware 87 2935 23

Kennet Valley B 29 1366 13

London-type Ware 17 812 5

Surrey Whiteware 2 203 1Iron Rich, Micaceous SandyWare 6 1182 1

Transitional Sandy Ware 1 27 1Border Ware 7 534 6

Red Border Ware 7 822 6

Raeren-type Stoneware 3 476 3

Frechen Stoneware 2 75 2

Total 178 9169 67

Table 1: Composition of the Assemblages Considered.

THE EARLYMEDIEVAL POTTERY

Two principle groups of early medieval pottery are present, gritty wares, generally with flint

inclusions, and sandy wares. The gritty wares fall into Rees group 1 at Brighton Hill.

Wessex Coarseware

A single sherd of Wessex Coarseware is present. This is a coarse sandy ware, common in west and

mid-Hampshire. It is believed to date from the 12th

-14th

centuries.

Flint and Sand Tempered Wares

These wares are a sub-group of the Brighton Hill Group 1 wares, probably corresponding with fabrics

21 and 22. These are the most common early medieval wares in Basingstoke, and 87 sherds are

present, representing a maximum of 23 vessels. Flint and Sand tempered wares are widespread

throughout Hampshire in the early medieval period. It is possible that the vessels relate to theKennet Valley A ware tradition, but limiting this ware type to the Kennet Valley probably creates an


2/6

artificial distinction between wares from this area and those produced and consumed elsewhere in

Hampshire. Similar flint tempered wares are present at Basing House, where they are dated to the

12th

-13th

centuries (Allen and Anderson 1999, 61). Three fabrics are present:

Fabric FMQ8 is black throughout, with common sub-rounded quartz grains and occasional, coarse sized,

angular flint fragments. Occasional fragments of chalk are also present. Brighton Hill fabric 22?

Fabric FMQ9 Coarse flint tempered ware. Has buff surfaces with a white core. There are common, medium

sized quartz grains and larger, coarse sized, angular flint fragments.

Fabric FMQfe1 is unevenly fired, can be black throughout or have oxidised patches. There are sparse-common

sub-rounded quartz grains with common, larger angular, flint fragments and occasional black iron ore. Coarser

than FMQ8.

Most (70) of the sherds could be attributed to jars, with a maximum of 9 vessels being present. All of

the rims present are simple, rounded, everted forms and examples of both sagging and flat bases are

present. All of the sherds are undecorated and unglazed.

Early Medieval Sandy Ware

These wares probably equate to Brighton Hill group 2 (Rees 1995), but are of a type which is fairly

ubiquitous in west and central Hampshire in the early medieval period. The ware are all coarse sandy

wares, with one tripod pitcher being present. This is decorated with combed decoration and has a

clear glaze. The majority of the remaining sherds in the group have a partial, clear glaze. Several

fabrics are present:

Fabric FQ1 is grey-buff throughout, sometimes with orange surfaces. There are abundant, densely packed sub-

angular/sub-rounded fine sized quartz grains.

Fabric FQ2 is buff/grey throughout. The only inclusions are moderately abundant fine quartz grains.

Fabric FEQ8 is an early medieval sandy ware. It is grey/buff throughout, with common rounded and sub-

rounded iron stained quartz grains. Quite well fired.

Fabric FQ28 is buff throughout. There are common sub-rounded fine sized quart grains in a fairly fine matrix.

Probably an early medieval sandy ware.

13TH-14TH CENTURYPOTTERY

Pottery of this date is not common in these assemblages, and the bulk of the material appears to

have been sourced from Surrey to the east, rather than from western Hampshire.

Kennet Valley B Ware (Brighton Hill Group 1)

There are 29 sherds of this ware, which is tempered with flint and chalk. These have been dated to

the 13th

-14th

centuries in Newbury (Vince et al 1997). Eight jars are represented one has a thickened

rim and three have hammerhead rims. Both forms are common amongst these wares elsewhere.

None of the sherds are decorated. At Brighton Hill, these wares belong to group 1 (Rees 1995). Three

fabrics are present:

Fabric MQcfarg1 is a wheelthrown sandy ware. Buff throughout with common, rounded, chalk inclusions, with

occasional iron rich clay pellets and larger angular flint fragments. The fabric is hard and pimply.


3/6

Fabric MQfefc1 is a coarse sandy ware, with oxidised surfaces and a grey core. Inclusions consist of common,

medium sized, sub-rounded quartz grains with black iron ore and angular, patinated flint with common,

rounded chalk.

Fabric MQcf5 is grey/buff throughout. There are common, medium sized, sub-rounded quartz grains with small

angular flint fragments and rounded chalk fragments, with occasional shell.

London-type Ware

There are 17 sherds (5 vessels) of London-type Ware. This has been identified at Basing House

(Anderson and Allen 1999, 61-2) and is a well made, hard fired, slightly micaceous, oxidised sandy

ware. It is one of the most abundant types of pottery in London and Basingstoke marks the eastern

limit of its distribution in any quantity. The types present here probably date to the 13th

-14th

century.

Three fabrics are present in this group:

Fabric MQmic3 is an oxidised ware with orange surfaces and a buff core. There are common sub-rounded and

sub-angular, medium sized quartz grains and micaceous surfaces.

Fabric MQ14 is a hard, wheelthrown, buff coloured fabric with a light grey core. Common-abundant, sub-rounded, medium sized quartz grains. Very occasional black iron ore. Possibly Basing House fabric 3.1 (London-

type Ware).

Fabric MQ15 has a similar matrix to MQ14, but there are occasional flecks of mica and the surface is reduced,

whilst the surfaces are bright orange. Possibly also a London-type Ware.

Five vessels are represented, a jar with a thickened rim, a jug with bright green glaze, 2 jugs with a

clear glaze (one of which has a thickened rim) and a tripod pitcher. The jar has thumb impressed

applied strip decoration and one of the jugs has a slashed handle.

Surrey Whiteware

There are 2 sherds from the base of a single Kingston-type Ware jug (Pearce and Vince 1988). This

has a bright green, external glaze and is a flat form, with thumb impressions and a slightly acute

basal angle.

LATER MEDIEVAL AND EARLYPOST MEDIEVAL WARES

A small number of sherds are of types known to date to the 15th

-17th

centuries. The presence of Iron

Rich, Micaceous Sandy Ware with these wares suggests that this also dates to this period. Most of

the pottery is of Surrey type, with both white and red Border Wares being present.

Iron Rich, Micaceous Sandy Ware

A single vessel (6 sherds) are present. The vessel is a jar with a simple everted rim and a flat base. It

is undecorated and unglazed. The fabric can be described as follows:

Fabric FQargmic2 is an oxidised sandy ware with common, sub-rounded, fine sized quartz grains, occasional

oxidised clay pellets and micaceous surfaces.

Transitional Sandy Ware

A single sherd of Transitional Sandy Ware is present. These fine, wheelthrown, well fired sandy

wares are common in 15th century assemblages from south and west Hampshire, generally being


4/6

most abundant outside of the area supplied by Surrey products. The sherd is an unglazed flat,

thumbed jug base. The fabric is as follows:

Fabric MQ3 is an oxidised sandy ware with sparse, medium sized quartz inclusions.

Border Ware

There are 14 sherds of Border Ware, representing 12 vessels. This is a fine, well made earthenware

produced at several centres on the Surrey/Hampshire border (Pearce 1992). Both White and Red

Border Ware are present. A dish, a jar and a pipkin are present amongst the white Border Wares and

a bowl. A costrel, a dish and a pipkin are present amongst the Red Border Wares. Based on the

forms, the sherds probably date from the late 16th

-early 17th

centuries (Pearce 1992).

Rhenish Stonewares

Five sherds of Rhenish Stoneware are present, 3 of Raeren-type and 2 of Frechen-type. The Raeren-

type sherds are all from mugs, the Frechen-type sherds are from jugs.

SUMMARY

Two key patterns emerge through the pottery, which confirms those observations made based on

the assemblages from Brighton Hill (Rees 1995) and Basing House (Anderson and Allen 1999). Firstly,

the majority of the wares are of Kennet Valley type, principally Kennet Valley B ware, although its

present, in relation to type A, is probably due to chronology. Whilst these plain, utilitarian wares

were sourced locally, the glazed sandy wares are principally of Surrey type, a pattern present both in

the medieval and post-medieval period. This conforms to a pattern of supply of these wares present

across the northern part of east Hampshire, for example in Alton. The presence of London-type

Ware is unusual as this has not been identified elsewhere in Hampshire , however its presence also

points to supply from the Surrey area.

THE SITES

Three small groups were studied from Basingstoke and the assemblages are summarised below.

Co-Op Site (table 2)

The assemblage from the Co-Op site consists of 128 sherds, representing a maximum of 38 vessels.

The assemblage is principally of early medieval date, with Flint and Sand Tempered Wares making up

the bulk of the pottery. There is a 13th-14th century element to the group, with Kennet Valley B

Ware and London-type Ware also being present.

Ware Name SC SW

Max

VC

Wessex Coarseware 1 11 1

Early Medieval Sandy Ware 16 726 5Flint and Sand TemperedWare 84 2809 21



Total 128 4932 38

Table 2: The Pottery from the Co-Op Site.


5/6

Woolworths Site (table 3)

The majority of the pottery in this group dates to the 13th-14th century. Both coarsewares and

sandy wares are present, including London-type Ware and Kennet Valley B Ware. There are also

sherds of Surrey Whiteware. There is a later (16th century) element to the assemblage, with sherds

of Border Ware, Raeren-type Stoneware and Transitional Sandy Ware being present.

Ware Name SC SW Max VC

Flint and Sand TemperedWare 3 126 2



Surrey Whiteware 2 203 1

Transitional Sandy Ware 1 27 1

Border Ware 3 89 3


Total 30 1539 16

Table 3: Pottery from the Woolworths Site.

BLB Site (table 4)

This is a small post medieval group, consisting of 20 sherds (max 13 vessels). The majority of sherds

are Border Ware, but Rhenish Stoneware and Iron Rich Micaceous Sandy Ware are also present.

Ware Name SC SW Max VC

Iron Rich, Micaceous SandyWare 6 1182 1

Border Ware 4 445 3Red Border Ware 7 822 6


Frechen Stoneware 2 75 2

Total 20 2698 13

Table 4: Pottery from the BLB Site.

Summary

All of the assemblages have different compositions, but this is due to chronology rather than any

spatial patterning. Therefore, they must be considered together to give a general impression of the

pottery consumed in the area, rather than allowing us to study internal patterns.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Allen, D and Anderson, S. 1999, Basing House, Hampshire. Excavations 1978-1991. Hampshire Field

Club Monograph 10.

Pearce, J and Vince, A. 1988, Surrey Whitewares, London and Middlesex Archaeological Society.

Pearce, J. 1992, Border Wares, London: HMSO.

Rees, H. 1995 in Fasham Keevill, G and Coe, D. 1995, Brighton Hill South (Hatch Warren): An Iron Age

Farmstead and Deserted Medieval Village in Hampshire, Salisbury: Wessex Archaeology Report 7,116-25.


6/6

Vince, A, Lobb, S, Richards, J and Mepham, L. 1997, Excavations in Newbury, Berkshire 1979-1990,

Wessex Archaeology Report 13.

report 23 basing stoke

Documents