report 27 alton

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Post-Roman Pottery from Excavations

in Alton, HampshireBen Jervis Archaeological Report 27

By Ben Jervis MA PIFA.

INTRODUCTION

This report summarises and characterises the pottery from a number of excavations in the east

Hampshire town of Alton. The bulk of the material comes from rescue excavations carried out in the

1970s under the auspices of the Alton Archaeological Committee, directed by Martin Millet. The

largest assemblage discussed here, from the excavations at Johnsons Corner (Millet 1983), has

already been published on microfiche, but not quantified and therefore is reassessed here. Pottery

from later excavations carried out by Hampshire Archaeology, Southern Archaeological Services andChris Currie Consultancy is also considered here.

Only one quantified medieval assemblage has been published from Alton (Blinkhorn and Brown

2007), however much of the pottery was lumped into larger groups than those defined here,

meaning that comparison with this assemblage cannot be carried out completely, especially as the

archive has not yet been deposited with Hampshire Museums Service. This report will outline the

pottery types present in regard to fabric, form and decoration, before discussing the individual

assemblages. It should be noted that much of the pottery was excavated from layers and as such is

fragmented and mixed, making secure dating difficult.

The pottery was studied by the author using a x10 binocular microscope and recorded using the

Hampshire pottery type series, developed whilst the analysis was undertaken. Medieval (post-1500)

pottery was recorded in depth, whilst post medieval pottery was only assessed, in line with the

authors doctoral research. Forms were recorded using the Medieval Pottery Research Groups Guide

to Medieval Ceramic forms and quantification was carried out by sherd count, weight, maximum

number of vessels and rim diameter/percent.

THE POTTERY

Pottery is present from the Anglo-Saxon period to the 19th

century, however the bulk of the material

dates from the later medieval period (14th

-15th

centuries). A range of locally produced wares are

present as well as products of known production centres in Surrey, Hampshire and West Sussex.

Anglo-Saxon Pottery

There are a total of 111 sherds of Anglo-Saxon pottery from the sites considered here, although the

only Anglo-Saxon groups came from the upper fills of a Roman ditch at Amery House. Anglo-Saxon

pottery of a similar type has also been recovered from the excavations at Neatham and at 18-20

High St (Blinkhorn and Brown 2007, 115). The study of the Anglo-Saxon pottery from the town would

benefit from comparison with the nearby cemetery at Mount Pleasant (Evison 1988).

Organic Tempered Wares


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There are 3 sherds of a micaceous sandy ware, all residual in medieval layers, but suggested to be of

Anglo-Saxon date on purely qualitative grounds. The fabric is black throughout with common, fine

sized quartz grains, and it is micaceous (fabric FQmic3). Similar sandy wares are present in the

assemblage at Chalton.

Summary

The assemblage of Anglo-Saxon pottery is small and the types present are well known in more

secure contexts elsewhere in east Hampshire and West Sussex. It is clear however, that there was

Anglo-Saxon occupation in the area of the town, at least at Amery House, if not in other areas.

Early Medieval Pottery (c11th Century-early 14th

Century)

This period must remain broad at the moment, due to an absence of secure deposits of this date.

The sherds assigned to this period are often residual and can only be assigned to this phase on the

basis of parallels with other sites in Hampshire. There are a few types present of known date.

Wessex Coarsewares, for example, date from the 12th

-14th

centuries in east Hampshire and Kennet

Valley B Wares date to the 13th

-14th

centuries in north Hampshire. Sherds of Surrey Whiteware,

Laverstock-type Ware and South Hampshire Redware can be dated to the 13th

-14th

centuries. The

wares can be loosely divided into coarsewares and sandy wares.

Coarsewares

A range of probably locally produced coarsewares are present. The most common are Micaceous

Coarse Sandy Ware, but Wessex Coarseware, Flint and Sand Tempered Wares and Kennet Valley B

wares are also present.

Wessex Coarseware

These coarse sandy wares are common in west Hampshire, but appear to also have been consumed

across north Hampshire in smaller quantities, especially in areas where Kennet Valley wares were

not consumed in large quantities, for example at Odiham Castle . They have been differentiated here

from the Micaceous Coarse Sandy Wares on the basis that they are not micaceous, although these

may be a localised variant within this tradition. They are generally believed to have been produced

from the 12th

-14th

centuries, based on parallels from east Wiltshire (e.g. Laverstock; Musty et al

1969) and west Hampshire (e.g. Romsey). These fabrics fit into Blinkhorns Fabric 10, which also

includes the Micaceous Coarse Sandy Wares and the potentially later Micaceous Fine Sandy Ware:

Fabric MQ19 varies is colour from black to orange. Vessels are generally hand built. Inclusions consist of

abundant sub-angular/sub-rounded, medium sized quartz which is densely packed.

Fabric MQarg4 has bright orange surfaces with a light grey core. There are common-abundant sub-rounded,

medium sized, white quartz grains with occasional iron rich clay pellets.

The 27 sherds present represent a maximum of 26 vessels, with bowls, a jar, jugs and tripod pitchers

all being present. Three bowls are present, one with an inturned hammerhead rim and two with

inturned, thickened rims with a rounded profile. Both of these forms are well known in Wessex

Coarsewares from across the county. One jar is present, with an everted, hammerhead rim. One jug

has a clubbed rim, and one has a simple, rounded form, whereas the tripod pitcher has beenidentified on the basis of an applied foot. One of the bowls and one of the jugs have a clear, partial


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exterior glaze. The jug also has thumb impressed decoration. Three undiagnostic body sherds also

have an exterior clear glaze, whilst one has an interior glaze. One sherd has an exterior dark green

glaze. One of the bowl rims is stabbed (as Blinkhorn 2007 no. AL10). Amongst the glazed,

undiagnostic sherds there are single examples with combed, rouletted and applied strip decoration.,

These are likely to be from jugs or tripod pitchers. One unglazed sherd is scratch marked and is likely

to be from a jar. The types present are typical of Wessex Coarsewares from across the county and

there is no reason to suggest a different date for these wares.

Flint and Sand Tempered Ware (inc. Kennet Valley Group A?)

There are 83 sherds, representing a maximum of 77 vessels, of Flint and Sand Tempered Ware

present in the assemblage. Again, this has largely been dated based on comparison with elsewhere.

Kennet Valley Group A wares from south Berkshire and north Hampshire date to the 11th

-12th

centuries (Vince et al 1997) and it is likely that the tradition has its roots in the late Saxon period.

Similar Flint and Sand Tempered wares are present in assemblages in Chichester (Jervis 2008),

Southampton (Brown 1994) and Winchester (Holmes and Matthews forthcoming), for example. Four

fabrics are present within this group:

Fabric FMQ14 is reduced throughout. It is a relatively fine sandy ware with common medium sized, sub-

rounded quartz grains and occasional large, patinated, flint fragments. Occasional chalk fragments. It is slightly

micaceous.

Fabric FMQ15 has slightly pinkish surfaces with a grey core. There is a sandy matrix with sparse-common sub-

rounded, medium sized quartz, with common, fine flint fragments which are generally white in colour.

Fabric FMQ16 is oxidised throughout. It is a sandy ware with sparse, sub-rounded, medium sized, quartz

inclusions and common flint fragments, which are generally black in colour, with occasional sub-rounded chalk

fragments. It is micaceous.

Fabric FMQ17has oxidised surfaces with a grey core. The texture is very coarse. Inclusions consist of sparse

medium sized, sub-rounded quartz grains and common larger, sub-rounded and sub-angular flint fragments,

which are generally white in colour.

The micaceous nature of fabrics FMQ14 and FMQ16 suggests that these are likely to be local

products. Neither FMQ15 or FMQ17 can be directly related to the Kennet Valley, but can perhaps be

considered to be part of a wider tradition of early medieval Flint and Sand Tempered Wares across

Hampshire, between the 10th

-12th

centuries.

The only vessel forms identified are jars, generally with simple everted rims, either with a roundedor straight-edged profile. There are also 3 examples of thickened everted rims with a rounded profile

and one vessel with a clubbed rim. No bases were present. All of the sherds are unglazed and

undecorated.

Early Medieval Fine Sandy Ware

There is a single sherd of a fine sandy ware, probably of early medieval date. This is a sandy ware

with common-abundant sub-rounded quartz grains (FQ1).

Flint and Chalk Tempered Wares (Kennet Valley B?)


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There are 21 sherds of Flint and Sand Tempered Ware, representing a maximum of 18 vessels.

Blinkhorn and Brown (2007) identified a similar flint and chalk tempered ware (fabric F11), which he

has tentatively dated to the 13th

-14th

century. This corresponds with the flint and chalk tempered

Kennet Valley B Wares which are common in North Hampshire in this period. Most of the sherds

here were recovered from topsoil or insecure layers of broad medieval date. A single fabric is

present:

Fabric MQcf7is reduced throughout, with pimply surfaces. Inclusions consist of common large, rounded chalk

fragments with less sparse-common sub-rounded, medium sized quartz and angular flint fragments.

Only three vessels could be positively identified, 1 bowl and 2 jars. The bowl has an inturned

hammerhead rim and one of the jars has a thickened, rounded, everted rim. The sherds are all

unglazed and undecorated.

Micaceous Coarse Sandy Ware

This ware has tentatively been dated to this period because its coarse nature means it bares some

similarity to the Wessex Coarsewares. Sherds are also very fragmented, suggesting that many are

residual in the excavated later deposits. This fabric equates to Blinkhorn and Brown s (2007) fabric

10, but has been subdivided. The vessels are generally wheel made, or wheel finished, with a coarse,

micaceous sand matrix. Similar wares have been identified further south, at Liss and Petersfield.

Blinkhorn and Brown (2007, 121) suggests that these may date to the 12th

-14th

century on the basis

of comparison with scratch marked wares from sites such as Laverstock, although elements of the

form and decoration are similar to 14th

century products of the Bentley kiln (Barton and Brears

1976). The fabric does not match samples of the kiln waste however. The dating of these wares must

remain vague, but they do appear to date to the earlier part of the medieval period.

MQmic2 is an oxidised ware with orange surfaces and a buff core. There are common sub-rounded and sub-

angular, medium sized quartz grains, with micaceous surfaces.

MQmic4 is a pimply micaceous sandy ware with common, medium sized, sub-rounded quartz inclusions. The

surfaces are oxidised to buff, the core is grey.

MQmic5 is a reduced version of fabric MQmic4.

A total of 510 sherds (maximum 467 vessels) are present. Seven bowls, 43 jars, 3 jugs and a curfew

have been identified. The reason for the large number of sherds which could not be assigned to

specific forms is largely due to the very fragmented nature of the assemblages. The jars principally

have simple or slightly thickened everted rims with rounded and straight edged forms being present

in roughly equal quantities. Two examples have an internal bead. Jars are also present with

hammerhead and clubbed rims. Bowls are present with a range of rim forms, with clubbed,

hammerhead and simple forms present, both everted and inturned forms being present. One jug is

present, with a thickened, straight-edged, simple rim. Four sagging jar bases are present and 2

thumbed jug bases are present. Vessels are rarely glazed. One bowl has an interior bright green

glaze and another has a clear interior and exterior glaze. One jar has a partial, clear, interior glaze

and a jug has a clear, interior glaze. Eighteen vessels have a clear, exterior glaze, 3 have a clear

interior glaze and 2 have an interior and exterior clear glaze. One of the bowl rims has been stabbed.

One jar is combed and 3 are scratch marked, with a further 3 having been wiped. A number of

sherds of unidentified forms are also decorated. Two sherds are combed, one is burnished and 1


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exhibits rilling. The most common decorative forms/surface treatments are scratch marking (max 4

vessels) and wiping (max 46 vessels). The thumbed cordons present on Blinkhorns fabric 10 vessels

are not present and a wider range of decorative forms have been identified here. It is unfortunate

that the assemblages are so fragmented, as this means it is not possible to produce as detailed a

type series as is desirable.

Glazed Sandy Wares

Glazed sandy wares are not common in the assemblage. The most common wares are Surrey

Whitewares, probably of Kingston-type. There are 11 sherds of a Whiteware with Flint Temper which

may also be a Surrey type. There are 18 sherds of Medieval Sandy Ware, 2 sherds of an Iron Rich

Sandy Ware and single sherds of South Hampshire Redware and Laverstock-type Ware. There are

also possible imported sherds, of Saintonge Whiteware and a French whiteware.

Surrey Whiteware

Kingston-type Ware has been defined by Pearce and Vince (1988) and has been found previously in

Alton (Blinkhorn and Brown 2007). It dates from the 13th

-15th

centuries. The fabric is buff in colour

with abundant, well sorted quartz inclusions and iron rich compounds, with occasional flint and mica

(Pearce and Vince 1988, 9). Nine of these sherds (7 vessels) are from jugs. One rim is present, it is

inturned, with a slight bead (e.g. Pearce and Vince 1988 no. 60). There is also a rod handle and

thumbed flat bases. Examples with obtuse (e.g. Pearce and Vince no. 84) and acute (e.g. Pearce and

Vince 1988 no. 36) basal angles are present. The jugs generally have an exterior bright green glaze,

although there are 5 sherds with a clear glaze and a small quantity with partial internal glazes. The

only decoration present is slashing on the rod handle.

South Hampshire Redware

A single small sherd of South Hampshire Redware is present (see Brown 2002). A small number of

sherds of this type were also identified in Alton by Blinkhorn (2007, 129). Alton does not seem to

have been a major consumer of these wares, with supply instead principally coming from the Surrey

industries.

Laverstock-type Ware

A single large sherd of Laverstock-type Ware, a hard, fine whiteware produced at Laverstock, near

Salisbury, was present (see Musty et al 1969). The sherd is from a bowl with a flanged rim.

Whiteware with Flint Temper

Eleven sherds (maximum 9 vessels) are present in a whiteware with flint temper. This may also be a

Surrey product:

Fabric FEQ11 is buff throughout, with a coarse, sandy matrix. There are common-abundant, sub-rounded, iron

stained quartz inclusions, with occasional white flint inclusions.

One sherd is from a jug and is decorated with applied pellets. Sherds generally have an exterior

bright green glaze, although examples with clear or dark green glaze are also present. The fabric of

these wares is similar to that of early Surrey Ware (Vince 1991, 73), which dates to the 12th

century,

however vessels in this ware in London are not glazed.


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Iron Rich Sandy Ware

There are 3 sherds of iron rich sandy ware, fitting into Blinkhorns (2007) fabric group 13. The sherds

are small and could not be assigned to a particular vessel form. The fabrics can be described as

follows:

Fabric MQfe6 has oxidised surfaces with a grey core. There are common medium sized, sub-rounded quartz

grains and larger, sub-rounded pieces of black iron ore.

Fabric MQfe15 has pinkish buff surfaces with a lighter buff core. Inclusions consist of common, medium sized,

sub-rounded quartz grains, some of which are pinkish in colour. There are sparse-common pieces of red iron

ore. This may relate to South Hampshire Redware.

Medieval Sandy Ware

There are 18 sherds of a medieval sandy ware with common quartz inclusions, around half of which

are iron stained (fabric MQfeq6). Amongst these sherds are 2 fragments from jars. Two sherds are

glazed, one with an interior bright green glaze and one with an exterior clear glaze. One sherd was

wiped. The iron stained quartz suggests that this was a local product. One large sherd was recovered

from a pit of 13th-14th century date excavated at the Police Station site.

Imported Wares

There is a single large sherd of a fine, slightly micaceous whiteware with a bright green exterior

glaze, probably a sherd of Saintonge Whiteware. A further small fine whiteware sherd, possibly of

French origin, was recovered from the Johnsons Corner excavations. These are the first medieval

imports to have been identified in Alton.

Conclusions

This period is difficult to define on temporal grounds due to the lack of secure deposits, but thetypes present are typical of 12

th-14

thcentury pottery in Hampshire, West Sussex and Surrey. Local

potters appear to have produced a long lived coarse sandy ware in the Wessex tradition, and small

quantities of similar wares are likely to have been brought in from further afield. The Surrey

Whiteware industries were the major supplier of glazed sandy wares, but small quantities of pottery

from the south and west also reached Alton. It is unclear whether the general low quantity of glazed

sandy wares has a functional explanation, or whether this relates more to the absence of secure

deposits dating from this period.

The Later Medieval Period (14th

-15th

Centuries)

In contrast to the earlier phases, there are several pit groups dating to this phase. The main dating

evidence is the presence of various Surrey wares, principally Coarse Border Ware, which dates to the

late 14th

-15th

centuries and the slightly later Tudor Green and Border Wares. Other wares of known

type are present dating to this phase, Bentley-type Wares, produced near Alton in the 14th

century,

and West Sussex Wares, dating from the 14th

-15th

centuries. There are also a range of Transitional

Sandy Wares, dating from the 15th

-early 16th

centuries.

Micaceous Fine Sandy Ware

This is a finer version of the Micaceous Coarse Sandy Wares and may date slightly later. It is a very

fine, wheelthrown ware, which relates to Blinkhorn and Browns (2007) fabric 12. There are 3 fabrics

present:


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Fabric FQmic1 is a well fired late medieval sandy ware with buff surfaces and a grey core. The matrix is sandy

and micaceous, and there are occasional larger, rounded quartz grains.

Fabric FQmic2 is a finer version of MQmic4/MQmic5. Vessels have well defined throwing marks.

Fabric MQmicarg1 is a sandy ware with oxidised (buff) surfaces and a light grey core. There are sparse-

common, medium sized, sub-rounded quartz grains with occasional iron rich clay pellets. The fabric is

micaceous,

Sherds are generally very fragmented, and for this reason few sherds could be assigned to particular

vessel forms. There are 3 bowls, 18 jars and 3 jugs. There are also 80 undiagnostic sherds,

representing a maximum of 50 vessels. Two of the bowls have flanged rims. One jar has a rounded

clubbed rim, with an everted rim, 12 have hammerhead, everted rims and there are also examples

of simple and slightly thickened rims. One sagging jar base is present and there is one thumbed jug

base. Sherds are rarely glazed. One bowl has a clear, interior glaze and one jar has an exterior clear

glaze. Three jars have thumbed applied strip decoration. Two examples are painted, in the West

Sussex tradition (see Barton 1969, 122). Vessels of similar form were produced at the Bentley kiln

(Barton and Brears 1975), but the fabric does not match with samples from the kiln site.

Late Medieval Organic Tempered Sandy Ware

A single late medieval sherd with organic temper is present. This type of pottery has been identified

in Southampton (Brown 2002) and at sites in west Hampshire (Jervis forthcoming). The sherd is

undiagnostic. The fabric (FQorg2) is a well fired sandy ware with oxidised surfaces and a grey core.

There are common fine-medium sized, sub-rounded quartz grains, some of which are slightly pink in

colour and evidence of burnt out organic material.

Late Medieval Sandy Ware with Chalk

There are 2 sherds of a well fired, oxidised sandy ware with chalk inclusions. A similar ware has been

termed as a transitional sandy ware by Blinkhorn (2007; fabric F30). One of the sherds is a flat base.

The fabric (FQc2) is orange throughout with common-abundant fine quartz and very occasional chalk

fragments.

Micaceous Redware/Wessex Redware

These wares are by far the most common in the assemblage. Based on their association in pit groups

with Coarse Border Ware they can be date to the late 14th

-15th

centuries. Wessex Redware is

common in south and west Hampshire. It is a fairly well fired oxidised ware, with a grey core whichhas been defined in Christchurch (Thomson et al 1983). A finer version is more common at sites in

east Hampshire, and this is what occurs here. Micaceous Redware is seemingly a localised version of

this ware, being similar to the typical Wessex Redware fabrics but with a relatively high mica

content. The fabrics are as follows:

Fabric FQ14 (Wessex Redware) has oxidised surfaces with a reduced core. There are common, fine sized, sub-

rounded quartz grains.

Fabric MQmic6 (Micaceous Redware) is oxidised, with bright orange surfaces with a dark grey core. Inclusions

consist of common, medium sized, sub-rounded quartz grains. The surfaces in particular are micaceous.


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There are 565 sherds of Micaceous Redware, representing a maximum of 539 vessels. The majority

of sherds are very fragmentary and cannot be assigned to particular vessel forms. Most sherds are

from jars, jugs and dripping pans, with bowls, bunghole pitchers and a pipkin also being present. The

bowls generally have inturned rims, either of simple or thickened form and generally with a straight

edged profile. There are 2 examples with hammerhead rims. There are few jar rims, the forms are

generally simple or thickened and everted, although there are 2 examples of lid seated forms. The

jugs also typically have simple rims. This general homogeneity in formal components is fairly typical

of later medieval pottery in Hampshire, whereby there are a wider range of vessels present than in

earlier periods, but that these have more standardised formal components. Bases are generally flat,

but most of the jug sherds have thumbed bases, with bases with both acute and obtuse basal angles

being present. Vessels are generally unglazed or partially glazed. Jars and bowls are more commonly

glazed on the interior and jugs on the exterior. The majority of sherds of undiagnostic form have a

clear, exterior glaze. Vessels are scarcely decorated with combing being the most common type.

Some vessels are wiped and there are also examples with slipped decoration, rilling, stabbing and

there are 2 handles which have been slashed.

Micaceous Redware fits into a south Hampshire tradition of fairly plain, utilitarian well fired

earthenwares which are scarcely decorated and only partially glazed, present in a range of

standardised, utilitarian forms. It can comfortably be dated to the late 14th

-15th

centuries.

Coarse Border Ware

This ware, defined by Pearce and Vince (1988) is the most common later medieval sandy ware. It is

characterised by common-abundant quartz grains set into a fine matrix, with occasional flint

inclusions. It has a coarser texture than the earlier Surrey Whitewares. There are a limited range of

vessel forms, a maximum of 3 bowls, 6 jars and 9 jugs. Two of the bowls have the typical flanged

rims, well known on Coarse Border Ware bowls (e.g. Pearce and Vince 1988, no. 501), one has a

simple, rounded, everted rim. The jars generally have characteristic lid seated rims (e.g. Pearce and

Vince 1988, no. 476) whilst the jugs have simple, or slightly developed, everted rims. Jug bases are

generally flat, with an acute basal angle and no thumbing or other embellishment. They are likely to

be from conical jugs (e.g. Pearce and Vince 1988, no. 425). Only strap handles are present. Vessels

typically have a clear or bright green exterior, partial glaze. Very few sherds have an interior glaze,

and where this does occur it is likely to be the result of accidental application, for example through

dripping during firing. Seven jug sherds have slipped decoration under the glaze. All of the forms

present are well known in Coarse Border Ware in London and elsewhere.

Bentley-type Ware

These sherds are in fabrics which match samples from the kiln at Bentley (Barton and Brears 1975).

There are 39 sherds, representing a maximum of 33 vessels, with jugs being the most common, with

a maximum of 11 vessels being present. These wares have been dated by Barton and Brears (1975)

to the 14th

century, on the basis of sherds recovered from excavations. Three fabrics have been

defined:

Fabric BENT1 has pinkish-orange surfaces and a grey core. Surfaces are fairly smooth and the fabric is quite

soft. There are common sub-rounded quartz inclusions with occasional iron rich clay pellets and chalk/shell

fragments.


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equal quantities, with clear glazes being most common. Vessels are very rarely decorated, there are

2 slashed handles, 1 example is combed and another painted.

Summary

The pottery of this period can be more closely dated than the earlier material largely thanks to the

presence of pit groups at Johnsons Corner. There are also types of known date, principally CoarseBorder Ware, but also small quantities of West Sussex Ware and Bentley-type Ware. The locally

produced Micaceous Redware and Transitional Sandy Ware fit into a widespread late medieval

tradition and are particularly distinctive thanks to their consistent, high firing and their standardised

forms.

Post Medieval Pottery: An Assessment

The post medieval pottery was only assessed, as this does not form part of the authors PhD study,

however it was deemed a worthwhile exercise to create a quantified record of the post medieval

pottery for future use. The most common earthenware is Post Medieval Redware, of the type

produced at centres such as Fareham, Farnham and Bishops Waltham. A number of slip decorated

dishes are present along with a range of other more plainly decorated forms including bowls, jars,

jugs and chafing dishes. Surrey products, particularly Border Ware, are also common with a similar

range of products being available. It seems that the Surrey/Hampshire border industries were the

main source of pottery to Alton in the post medieval period, but there are also a small number of

sherds of Verwood-type, Brown and Black glazed wares and miscellaneous Post Medieval Sandy

Wares.

Few imports were recognised, the only types present being Rhenish stonewares, with small

quantities of Raeren, Frechen and Westerwald type all being present. There are a small number of

slipware products, 1 sherd of Bristol-Staffordshire type and 10 sherds of an unidentified buff bodied

slipware, possibly a Surrey product.

There is a great deal of industrial period pottery, principally recovered from layers at Johnsons

Corner. These are worthy of further analysis. The types present consist of Tin Glazed Ware, Cream-

and Pearlwares, Porcelain, Refined Earthenwares and English Stoneware. There is a great deal of

post medieval pottery. Whilst much is from insecure contexts, it is definitely worth further study,

probably as a large group, rather than as individual assemblages.

THE SITES

The pottery from each site will be generally discussed by site, with some comment made on the

condition of the assemblages, as well as the types present.

27 High Street

A small group of early medieval pottery was recovered during building activity. There are 32 sherds,

27 of which are of Micaceous Coarse Sandy Ware, representing a maximum of 25 vessels. There are

also 3 sherds of Kennet Valley B Ware and single sherds of Wessex Coarseware and Flint and Sand

Tempered Ware. Sherds are generally fairly large. It is unclear if every sherd was recovered from the

site, but this would seem to be a group of 13th

century date.

30 High Street


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Excavations carried out by Hampshire Archaeology recovered a series of layers, principally of post

medieval date. Most of the medieval pottery appears to be residual in later deposits. This is

reflected by the low average sherd weight of the early medieval pottery, the most common type of

which is Micaceous Coarse Sandy Ware. The majority of the pottery is of late medieval or post

medieval date, with larger sherds of Micaceous Redware, Border Ware and Post Medieval Redware

being present.

37 High Street

Excavations by Chris Currie Consultancy recovered a small number of features of medieval date.

Features typically contained only small quantities of pottery. The assemblage consists of only 35

sherds, with most being of early medieval date. Feature 41 contained an early medieval group,

consisting of 2 moderately sized sherds of Flint and Sandy Tempered Ware, 2 large sherds of

Micaceous Coarse Sandy Ware and a small sherd of South Hampshire Redware. Feature 60

contained a later medieval group, consisting of 11 sherds of Micaceous Redware and a sherd of

Coarse Border Ware.

Amery House

The excavations at Amery House were carried out by The Trust for Wessex Archaeology. A series of

layers, principally related to gravel terracing during the later medieval and post medieval period,

were excavated. A Roman ditch was also identified, the upper fill of which contained a group of

Saxon pottery. A post medieval horse burial was also excavated. The pottery is generally very

fragmented, as is to be expected from a site where pottery was generally recovered from layers.

Small sherds of Anglo-Saxon pottery were recovered throughout the sequence, ditch fill 87 and

possibly layer 70 contained Anglo-Saxon assemblages. The early medieval pottery is extremely

fragmented and a typical range of wares are present, with Micaceous Coarse Sandy Waredominating. There are larger sherds of Post Medieval pottery, suggesting that this was the main

period of deposition at the site. As is typical in Alton, Post Medieval Redware and Border Ware

dominate the post medieval assemblage.

54 High St

A small group, principally of post medieval date, was recovered during building activity. There are

large sherds of Rhenish stoneware and Post Medieval Redware, 2 small sherds of Border Ware and

17 large sherds of Micaceous Coarse Sandy Ware, from 3 vessels.

Alton Church Hall

A total of 28 small sherds were recovered, principally of Post Medieval Redware. Several sherds of

early medieval date were also recovered, principally of Flint and Sand Tempered Ware and

Micaceous Coarse Sandy Ware. Single sherds of Transitional Sandy Ware, Border Ware and

Verwood-type Ware were also recovered.

Alton Site D

A series of contexts were excavated which contained mixed and fragmented assemblages. Most of

the pottery is of early medieval date, with Micaceous Coarse Sandy Ware dominating and sherds of


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Wessex Coarseware, Flint and Sand Tempered Ware and Medieval Sandy Ware also being present.

There is also a small and very fragmented assemblage of late and post medieval pottery.

Johnsons Corner

The largest group of pottery was recovered from the excavations at Johnsons Corner. Three areas

were excavated. The main feature of these sites are a series of pit groups, which can be dated to thelate medieval and early post medieval period.

Site A

Most of the pottery is of late medieval date and there are a series of discrete groups of late 14th

-15th

century pottery, described below:

Pit 36 contained a small, and probably residual, sherd of Micaceous Coarse Sandy Ware with 2 larger

sherds of Coarse Border Ware, 20 sherds of Micaceous Redware, 39 sherds of Transitional Sandy

Ware and a small, possibly intrusive, sherd of Border Ware. This pit probably dates to the late 14th

-

15th century, on the basis of the presence of Coarse Border Ware.

Pit 52 contained 25, generally fragmented, sherds. These consist of a small fragment of Micaceous

Coarse Sandy Ware, 2 small sherds of Micaceous Fine Sandy Ware, a small sherd of Coarse Border

Ware, 2 large sherds of Bentley-type Ware, 15 sherds of Micaceous Redware, 3 sherds of Tudor

Green and 1 sherd of Border Ware. The pit was probably filled with redeposited material in the late

medieval period (14th

-15th

centuries).

Pit 67 contained 41 sherds. These consist of 2 small sherds of Micaceous Fine Sandy Ware, 3 larger

sherds of Micaceous Redware, 26 sherds of Transitional Sandy Ware, 9 small sherds of Post Medieval

Redware and a large sherd of Raeren-type Stoneware. The pit would appear to date from the 15

th

-16

thcenturies.

Pit 68 contained 14 sherds, consisting of a small sherd of Micaceous Fine Sandy Ware, 2 sherds of

Surrey Whiteware, 8 sherds of Micaceous Redware and 3 large sherds of Transitional Sandy Ware. It

probably dates from the 14th

-15th

centuries.

Pit 69 contained 56 sherds, principally of late medieval and early post medieval date. Five small

sherds of Micaceous Coarse Sandy Ware may be residual. There are 3 moderately sized sherds of

Micaceous Fine Sandy Ware, a large fragment of Coarse Border Ware, a small piece of Bentley-type

Ware, 39 moderately sized sherds of Micaceous Redware, 4 large sherds of Transitional Sandy Ware

and a moderately sized sherd of Post Medieval Sandy Ware. Small sherds of Border Ware and Post

Medieval Redware may be intrusive. This seems to be a late medieval pit, perhaps dating to the late

14th

or 15th

century.

Posthole 73 contained 34 sherds, 25 of which are fragments of Micaceous Redware. There are also

sherds of Wessex Caorseware, Micaceous Coarse Sandy Ware, Surrey Whiteware, Bentley-type Ware

and Transitional Sandy Ware. The posthole probably dates from the 14th

-15th

century.

Pit 76 contained 20 sherds. These consist of 2 moderately sized sherds of Micaceous Coarse Sandy

Ware, a large sherd of Surrey Whiteware, 3 large sherds of Coarse Border Ware, 13 large sherds of

Micaceous Redware and a moderately sized sherd of Transitional Sandy Ware. The context probably

dates to the late 14th

-15th

centuries.


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There is a small and fragmented assemblage of early medieval pottery, which contains some more

unusual types, including fragments of possible Laverstock-type Ware and French imports, as well as

sherds of Whiteware with Flint. There is an important early modern group from the upper layers,

which includes a high quantity of English Stoneware.

Site B

This is the smallest group from the site, consisting of 130 sherds which are principally of post

medieval date. There are no secure groups as at sites A and C. Sherds are generally small and

fragmented. Although the context information is incomplete, it seems that the majority were

recovered from gravel terracing layers.

Site C

A larger assemblage (444) sherds was recovered from this site, including several pit groups dating

from the 14th

-16th

century. There are several key groups:

Context 7 dates from the 15th-16th centuries. Late medieval wares consist of a large sherd of Bentley-

type Ware and 8 small sherds of Micaceous Redware. There are also 10 small sherds of Tudor Green,

a small sherd of Border Ware and a moderately sized sherd of Raeren-type Stoneware.

Context 61 contained a mixture of pottery, which is fairly fragmented. There are 5 small sherds of

Micaceous Coarse Sandy Ware and 4 of Micaceous Fine Sandy Ware. Six sherds of Coarse Border

Ware, a large sherd of Bentley-type Ware and 2 small sherds of West Sussex Ware are also present,

along with 14 small sherds of Micaceous Redware. There is one small sherd of Transitional Sandy

Ware. The remaining pottery is of post medieval date and consists of 2 small fragments of Tudor

Green, 3 small sherds of Post Medieval Redware, a small sherd of Rhenish Stoneware and a small

fragment of Refined Earthenware. This would seem to be a 15th-16th century context, but with some

residual/intrusive material.

The majority of material in pit 85 appears to be of late medieval date. The earliest sherd is a small

fragment of Roman pottery. Five sherds of Micaceous Coarse Sandy Ware and 6 of Micaceous Fine

Sandy Ware are also present. All are small and potentially residual. There are larger sherds of Surrey

Whiteware (7), Coarse Border Ware (3) and Bentley-type Ware (3), as well as a small sherd of West

Sussex Ware. There are also 42 small sherds of Micaceous Redware, 4 small sherds of Transitional

Sandy Ware and a small sherd of Tudor Green. The pit seems to date from the 14th

century, based on

the presence of large sherds of Coarse Border Ware, Surrey Whiteware and Bentley-type Ware. The

smaller fragments of the various coarsewares suggests some material may have been redeposited,

making it difficult to extract any information about the dating of these coarsewares.

Pit 86 contained 22 small sherds, principally of Micaceous Coarse Sandy Ware (15). There are also 2

sherds of Bentley-type Ware, 2 sherds of Transitional Sandy Ware, a sherd of Post Medieval Redware

and 2 small unidentified sherds. The pit would appear to have been filled with redeposited material,

perhaps in the early post medieval period. The excavator suggests a 14th

-15th

century date, which

seems appropriate.

Context 102 contained 14 sherds of medieval pottery. There are 3 small sherds of Micaceous Coarse

Sandy Ware and 2 small sherds of Micaceous Fine Sandy Ware, as well as 3 moderately sized sherdsof Micaceous Redware. There is a large sherd of Surrey Whiteware and 3 large sherds of Coarse


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Border Ware, along with 2 small sherds of Transitional Sandy Ware. A late 14th

or early 15th

century

date can be suggested on the basis of the presence of Coarse Border Ware and Surrey Whiteware.

Pit 103 contained 50 sherds. There are 2 small sherds of Micaceous Fine Sandy Ware, 2 small sherds

of Surrey Whiteware and 8 small sherds of Coarse Border Ware. There are larger sherds of West

Sussex Ware (1), Micaceous Redware (31) and Transitional Sandy Ware (2), which suggest a late 14th

-

15th century date for the pit. There are also single sherds of Tudor Green, Border Ware and

Whiteware with Flint, which correspond with this date range. This pit was originally dated to the 16th

century by the excavator.

Pit 133 contained 17 sherds of varying date. The earliest is a small sherd of Chalk Tempered Ware

and 2 small sherds of Wessex Coarseware. These are probably residual. There are 2 moderately sized

sherds of Micaceous Coarse Sandy Ware, 4 large sherds of Micaceous Fine Sandy Ware, 4 large

sherds of West Sussex Ware and single sherds of Micaceous Redware and Surrey Whiteware. There

are single small sherds of Tudor Green and Whiteware with Flint. The excavator suggests a 15th

-16th

century date. This seems too late, on the basis of the West Sussex Ware and Surrey Whiteware, a

14th-15th century date can be suggested.

All of the earlier medieval pottery is typical of that from elsewhere, but is generally fragmented. The

later types are also typical of the town as a whole.

Alton Methodist Church

Thirty-nine sherds were recovered during building activity. The largest sherds are of post medieval

date, with Border Ware, Post Medieval Redware, Verwood, Brown Glazed Ware, Industrial Slipware

and Refined Earthenware being present. The earlier pottery is extremely fragmented an probably

residual.

Market Square

Six large sherds were recovered, 2 of Flint and Sand Tempered Ware, 1 of Micaceous Redware and 3

of Border Ware.

Normandy Street

Excavations by Southern Archaeological Services revered 3 groups of pottery. Only one, context 6,

could be dated securely, to the 14th

-15th

century. It contained sherds of Micaceous Fine Sandy Ware,

Micaceous Redware and Coarse Border Ware.

Alton Police Station

A pit was excavated which contained 41, generally large sherds. These consist of a large piece of

Wessex Coarseware, 8 large sherds of Micaceous Coarse Sandy Ware, 22 large sherds of Micaceous

Fine Sandy Ware, 7 sherds of Bentley-type Ware, 1 sherd of Micaceous Redware and a large sherd of

Medieval Sandy Ware, with a small fragment of Iron Rich Sandy Ware. This pit can be dated to the

13th

-14th

centuries.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

The pottery from these sites greatly enhances our knowledge of pottery from Alton. A single smallgroup of Anglo-Saxon pottery has been recovered, with the types present conforming to those in


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larger assemblages excavated in Hampshire and West Sussex. There are several secure groups dating

to the 14th

-16th

centuries, meaning that we have been able to develop a fairly good understanding of

the pottery of this period. No such groups are present for the earlier medieval period. The majority

of pottery in this phase are Micaceous Coarse Sandy Wares, and the general absence of glazed sandy

wares is noticeable. In both phases, most of the coarsewares appear to be locally produced, with

glazed jugs principally being supplied by the industries of the Surrey/Hampshire border. There are

several large post medieval groups which deserve further study.

The assemblages are generally very small and fragmentary, which limits their interpretive potential,

but there seems to be little difference in the composition of the assemblages, suggesting that no

clear social differences can be deduced from a study of the pottery alone. A similar level of

homogeneity has been noted in assemblages from the small town of Romsey in west Hampshire.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Barton, K. 1969, Three Groups of Medieval Jugs and Their Wider Significance in Proceedings of the

Hampshire Field Club Archaeological Society 24, 62-72.

Barton, K and Brears, P. 1976, A Medieval Pottery Kiln at Bentley, Hants in Proceedings of the

Hampshire Field Club Archaeological Society 32, 71-5.

Blinkhorn, P and Brown, D. 2007 Pottery in Taylor, K and Hammond, S. 2007, The Excavation of

Medieval Pits and Analysis of a 13th

-15th

Century Ceramic Assemblage from 18-20 High Street, Alton,

Hampshire in Proceedings of the Hampshire Field Club Archaeological Society 62, 109-42, 115-33.

Brown, D. 1994, Pottery in Late Saxon Southampton in Proceedings of the Hampshire Field Club

Archaeological Society 50, 153-68.

Brown, D., 2002 Pottery in Medieval Southampton c1066-1510. CBA Research Report 133, York.

Evison, V. 1988, An Anglo-Saxon Cemetery at Alton, Hampshire, Hampshire Field Club Monograph 4.

Fasham, P and Whinney, R. 1991, Archaeology and the M3, Hampshire Field Club Monograph 7.

Holmes, K. And Matthews, C. Forthcoming: 1500 Years of Pottery from Winchester: Excavations

1972-1986. Winchester Museums.

Jervis, B. 2009, Pottery from Late Saxon Chichester. A reassessment of the evidence in Sussex

Archaeological Collections147, 61-76.

Millet, M. 1983, The History, Architecture and Archaeology ofJohnsons Corner, Alton in

Proceedings of the Hampshire Field Club Archaeological Society 39, 77-109.

Musty, J., Algar, D. And Ewence, P., 1969 The Medieval Pottery Kilns at Laverstock, near Salisbury,

Wiltshire,Archaeologia52, 83-150.

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

Thomson, R., Barton, K. and Jarvis, K., 1983 The Pottery in K. Jarvis (ed), Excavations in Christchurch

1969-1980. Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society Monograph Series 5, Dorchester, 53-

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Timby, J. 1988, The Middle Saxon Pottery in P. Andrews (ed), The Coins and Pottery from Hamwic,

Southampton Museums.

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

Wessex Archaeology Report 13.

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