Post-Roman Pottery from Lee Lane,

Nursling, Hampshire.
Ben Jervis Archaeological Report 17
By Ben Jervis MA PIFA

INTRODUCTION
A small exaction by Test Valley Archaeological Trust at Lee Lane, Nursling recovered 329 sherds of
pottery, principally of 11th-14th century date. There are 4 sherds of Roman pottery (not considered
here). Prehistoric pottery from the area has been considered elsewhere by Helen Rees. There are 59
sherds of Anglo-Saxon date, 122 of 11th-14th century date, 88 of 13th-14tth century date, 20 of 14th-
15th century date, 9 are post medieval and 13 modern/early modern (table 1).

Most of the pottery can be paralleled elsewhere, either in Southampton or Romsey. The types
present will be outlined, before the pottery is discussed by feature.

ANGLO-SAXON POTTERY
Organic Tempered Ware

Of the 59 sherds of Anglo-Saxon date, the majority (51) are mid-Saxon organic tempered ware. All
are from one vessel, which has simple, straight edged, everted rim and a sagging base. The form is
paralleled at Hamwic and similar organic tempered fabrics with fine quartz inclusions are known
elsewhere in the Test Valley, for example at Romsey and Kings Somborne. These wares form part of
a wide tradition in southern England and similar fabrics have also been identified, for example, in
east Hampshire at Portchester, Alton and Chalton.

Flint Tempered Ware

There are 6 sherds of Coarse Flint Tempered ware:

Fabric F1 is unevenly fired. The only inclusions are moderately abundant, coarse, sub-angular flint fragments.

Sherds in a similar fabric are present in Saxon deposits from Romsey and also in Hamwic. The fabric
is likely to date from the latter part of the mid-Saxon period or the earlier part of the late Saxon
period, with sandier flint tempered wares seemingly introduced in the 10th-11th centuries. All of the
sherds present here are undiagnostic, undecorated body sherds.

Chalk Tempered Ware

Two sherds of Chalk Tempered Ware are present:

Fabric MQc2 has orange surfaces and a grey core. Inclusions consist of abundant, sub-rounded medium sized
quartz, with occasional sub-rounded chalk fragments.

Chalk tempered ware is the most common Anglo-Saxon ware in Romsey and is also present in both
Hamwic and late Saxon Southampton. It is likely that these sherds are of Anglo-Saxon date. Both
sherds are undiagnostic and undecorated.
 Period Ware SC SW ASW
Roman 4 26 7
Mid-Saxon Organic Tempered with Fine
Sand 51 503 10
Saxon
Coarse Flint Tempered Ware 6 52 9
Chalk Tempered Ware 2 17 9
Saxon Total 59 572 10
Flint and Sand Tempered Ware 27 225 8
Early Medieval Wessex Coarseware 91 523 6
Fine Sandy 4 33 8
Early Medieval Total 122 781 6
Southampton Coarseware 54 617 11
Kennet Valley B 2 14 7
Laverstock-type Ware 2 4 2
13th-14th Century South Hampshire Redware 1 11 11
Southampton Sandy Ware 16 129 8
Iron Rich Whiteware 1 3 3
Whiteware with Flint Temper 12 61 5
13th-14th Century Total 88 839 10
Late Medieval Organic Tempered Sandy
Ware 1 5 5
14th-15th Century Late Medieval Sandy Ware 2 13 7
Wessex Redware 14 107 8
Transitional Sandy Ware 3 53 18
14th-15th Century Total 20 178 9
Verwood 4 40 10
Post Medieval Redware 2 69 35
Post Medieval Border Ware 1 9 9
Post Medieval Brown Glazed Ware 1 5 5
Raeren-type Stoneware 1 13 13
Post Medieval Total 9 136 15
Tin Glazed Ware 3 7 2
Porcelain 1 2 2
English Stoneware 1 95 95
Modern
Scratch Blue 1 5 5
Refined earthenware 3 4 1
Flower Pot 4 164 41
Modern Total 13 277 21
Unid. 14 18 1
Total 329 2827 9
Table 1: Composition of the Assemblage.

Summary

Given that the Organic Tempered Ware sherds are from a single vessel, Anglo-Saxon pottery
accounts for a very small proportion of the assemblage. The types present can be paralleled
elsewhere, both in Romsey and Southampton for example, and seem fairly typical of the locally
produced pottery of the period.

EARLY MEDIEVAL WARES

Three early medieval wares are present, all of which can be paralleled in Romsey and, to a lesser
extent, Southampton. These are Flint and Sand Tempered Ware, Wessex Coarseware and Fine Sandy
Ware.
Flint and Sand Tempered Ware
There are 27 small sherds of Flint and Sand Tempered Ware present. In Romsey this ware dates to
the 10th-12th centuries and this is also reflected in Southampton (Brown 1994) and a similar tradition
exists further north, in the Kennet Valley (Vince et al 1997). Four fabrics are present in the
assemblage here:

Fabric FMQ1 is unevenly fired, with colours ranging from grey to orange. There are abundant, angular flint
inclusions and moderately abundant, sub-rounded, medium sized quart grains. This may be a Kennet Valley
type (Lorraine Mepham pers. Comm.).

Fabric FMQ2 has partially oxidised surfaces with a grey core. There are abundant sub-angular flint inclusions,
with occasional, medium sized, sub-rounded quartz.

Fabric FMQ3 is grey throughout. Inclusions consist of moderately abundant, sub-angular flint with moderately
abundant medium sized, sub-rounded quartz. Some sherds are more consistently fired with buff surfaces and a
grey core.

Fabric CQf1 has partially oxidised surfaces, grey core. There are moderately abundant, sub-rounded, coarse
sized quartz inclusions with occasional sub-angular flint fragments

Five of these sherds have been identified as coming from jars. Two of these sherds are rims. One is a
simple, everted rim with a rounded profile. The other is an everted, thickened rim which is straight
edged. Both rim profiles are known elsewhere in the Test Valley, for example at Romsey. None of
the sherds are decorated.

Wessex Coarsewares

As in Romsey, the most common wares are Wessex Coarsewares, which date to the 12th-14th
century. These are also known in Southampton and are the most common pottery type in the lower
part of the Test Valley. This may in part be due to their long period of currency, but also because
they were produced fairly locally, for example at Laverstock. They do not dominate the assemblage
quite so much here as in Romsey and this may be partly due to the presence of Southampton
Coarseware in the assemblage from the 13th century. Two fabrics are present here:

Fabric MQ1 varies is colour from black to orange. Vessels are generally handmade. There are abundant sub-
angular/sub-rounded, medium sized quartz inclusions which are densely packed. This is the most abundant
ware in this group.

Fabric MQ2 is grey-buff throughout, sometimes with orange surfaces. There are abundant sub-angular/sub-
rounded, medium sized quartz, which are less densely packed than fabric MQ1.

Of the 91 sherds present, 6 could be identified as coming from jars and 1 from a bowl. The bowl has
a thickened, rounded, everted rim. Three jars have simple, rounded, everted rims. One has an
internal bead, similar to that found on Southampton Coarseware (see below). A further example is
everted with a straight edge and one jar has a clubbed rim. Four sherds are decorated with scratch
marking, deemed to be typical of Anglo-Norman coarsewares in this area (Brown 2002). Three
sherds have a partial, clear glaze, one is interior, two are exterior.

Fine Sandy Ware

There are four sherds of Fine Sandy Ware. These are fairly ubiquitous in medieval assemblages in
this area. These wares first come into currency in the late Saxon period, but similar wares are likely
to have produced into the 14th century. Michelmersh-type wares fit into this tradition, but are not
present in this assemblage. A single fabric is present:

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

One sherd could be identified as coming from a jar. None are decorated or glazed.

Summary

The wares present here are typical throughout the Test Valley in the early medieval period and at
least some are likely to have been produced locally. Although Wessex Coarseware is the most
abundant ware within this group, it comprises a lower proportion of the medieval pottery than in
Romsey, and this appears to be due to some pottery being supplied from Southampton int he 13 th-
14th centuries.

13TH-14TH CENTURY WARES

The 13th-14th century appears to see a marked shift in the supply of pottery to the site. The
assemblage is dominated by Southampton types, Southampton Coarseware and Southampton Sandy
Ware, with Laverstock-type Ware and even South Hampshire Redware being represented only by a
small number of sherds. There are 12 sherds of a whiteware with flint temper which has not been
identified elsewhere in the Test Valley and may have been locally produced.

Southampton Coarseware

This is the most common 13th-14th century ware in the assemblage and is the most common
coarseware of this date in Southampton (Brown 2002, 12). It has not been identified in assemblages
north of Nursling, but sherds have been identified at sites in the eastern part of the New Forest,
including at Holbury and at Brockenhurst, where some wasters have been identified (Duncan Brown
pers. comm). The fabric can be described as follows:

Fabric MQcf3 is an unevenly fired coarseware, generally with orange surfaces and a grey core. Inclusions
consist of sparse-common, medium sized, sub-rounded quartz grains and occasional rounded chalk fragments,
with large, sub-angular and sub-rounded flint fragments.

Rim Rim Rim

Vessel Name Form Rim Profile Angle Embellishment SC SW MVC
Straight-
Bowl Simple Edged Everted Internal Bead 2 73 1
Dish Simple Rounded Everted Internal Bead 1 78 1
Straight-
Simple Edged Everted 1 7 1
Jar Internal Bead 6 78 4
Straight-
Thickened Edged Everted 1 5 1
Straight-
Unidentified Thickened Edged Everted 1 5 1
Total 12 246 9
Table 2: Occurrence of Southampton Coarseware Rims.

Of the 54 sherds present, 17 could be identified as coming from jars and 3 were from bowls/dishes.
Bowls are a rare type in Southampton itself, but are known to have been produced (Brown 2002,
122). Two of the bowls/dishes have simple, straight edged rim, with the distinctive internal bead,
typical of Southampton coarseware vessels (Brown 2002, 12) (table 2). The other vessel has a similar
rim, but with a rounded profile. The jars usually have the typical simple, straight edged rim with an
internal bead. One example does not and a further example of a thickened, straight edged rim is
present. None of the sheds are glazed or decorated.

Kennet Valley B Ware(?)

There are two sherds with flint and chalk temper, possibly of Kennet Valley type B. These wares are
common in the northern Test Valley, for example at Abbots Anne and Andover. They were first
defined in Newbury (Vince et al 1997). A single fabric is present:

Fabric MQcf1 is reduced, being grey/black in colour. Inclusions consist of common, sub-angular quartz grains
with common angular flint fragments. There is evidence of occasional chalk fragments.

The sherds match well with examples from further north, but it is noticeable that these wares are
absent from both Romsey and Southampton. They may represent a single vessel brought to Nursling
as part of movements up the River Test, rather than as a formal object of trade.

Laverstock-type Ware

There are only 2 small sherds of Laverstock-type Ware present. This is the most common glazed
sandy ware in Romsey, but is comparatively rare in Southampton (Brown 2002, 15). The fabric is a
hard, fine whiteware and vessels were produced at Laverstock, near Salisbury (Musty et al 1969).

South Hampshire Redware

Given the fact that the Nursling assemblage shares much in common with the assemblage from
Southampton, the presence of only a single sherd of South Hampshire Redware is surprising. This is a
fine, iron rich redware which is common in assemblages in southern Hampshire, including at
Southampton, Winchester and in Romsey.

Southampton Sandy Ware

Southampton Sandy Ware is an iron rich sandy ware. This ware is common in Southampton (Brown
2002, 14) and has also been observed in Romsey, particularly at the Abbey. These wares are also
present in the assemblage from East Wellow and it has been suggested that an alternative
production centre exists. In Southampton it has been suggested that these wares were kitchen or
transport vessels with a short lifespan, given the evidence of usewear and the generally sparse
decoration. The fabric is as follows:

Fabric MQfe1 has orange surfaces with grey core. Inclusions consist of moderately abundant, medium sized
quartz with occasional iron rich clay pellets/red iron ore.

There are six examples of slashed strap handles, all from jugs. A further body sherd has combed
decoration. Several sherds are glazed with a partial external glaze which is generally dark green in
colour. These forms are typical of the forms present in Southampton.

Iron Rich Whiteware

A single sherd of iron rich whiteware is present. These wares are common in south Hampshire and
similar wares are present in Southampton (Local Whiteware, Southampton Whiteware), but are not
an exist match for this fabric. Sherds of this type have also been identified in Romsey:

Fabric MQfe2 is white/buff throughout. Inclusions consist of moderately abundant, medium sized quartz with
occasional black iron ore.

Whiteware with Flint Temper

There are 12 sherds of a whiteware fabric with flint temper. This has not been identified elsewhere
in the Test Valley and was possibly locally produced.

Fabric FQfarg1 is a white/buff ware with abundant, fine sized quartz grains. There are common, rounded iron
rich clay pellets and common, larger, angular black and white flint fragments.

It is possible that this fabric is a Surrey type (see Pearce and Vince 1988), but this seems unlikely
given the general absence of these wares from Romsey and Southampton. The fabric would seem to
fit into either the iron rich whiteware tradition described above, or the Whiteware with Argillaceous
inclusions group found in Romsey. Of the 12 sherds, 9 have been identified as coming from jars,
which also counts against these being a Surrey product. Vessels are unglazed and undecorated. It is
suggested that this is a very locally produced coarse sandy ware.

Summary

This is assemblage is particularly interesting when compared with that from Romsey. It is particularly
distinctive because of the prevalence of Southampton types, suggesting that in the 13 th century
Nursling started to look towards Southampton, rather than east Wiltshire for its pottery. The range
of wares is also particularly interesting, with coarsewares and coarse sandy wares dominating.
Glazed sandy ware jugs are very rare. This is suggestive of a different type of ceramic consumption in
this rural setting, compared to the urban settings of Romsey and Southampton.

14TH-15TH CENTURY WARES

There are a small number of later medieval wares. All are present in greater quantities in Romsey
and/or Southampton. The earliest are Wessex Coarseware, Late Medieval Organic Tempered Ware
and Late Medieval Sandy Ware, all of which likely date to the late 14th century. There are also 3
sherds of Transitional Sandy Ware, which dates to the 15th century.

Late Medieval Organic Tempered Sandy Ware

There is a single sherd of a sandy ware with organic temper. A similar ware is present in Romsey and
an equivalent ware was also produced in Southampton (Brown 2002, 18):

Fabric MQorg2 has oxidised surfaces and a reduced core. Inclusions consist of common, medium sized, sub-
rounded quartz, with occasional voids from organic temper.

Late Medieval Sandy Ware

Two sherds of a Late Medieval Sandy Ware fabric are present. This fabric is small component of
assemblages in Romsey:
Fabric FEQ3 is brown/orange throughout, with moderately abundant, rounded, medium sized, iron stained
quartz grains.

Wessex Redware

Wessex Redware is the most common late medieval ware in the assemblage. It is common in
Romsey and has also been identified further south at Christchurch (Thomson et al 1983). In
Southampton it probably fits into the Late Medieval Well Fired Sandy Ware group. A single fabric is
present:

Fabric MQ4 is a wheelthrown sandy ware with oxidised surfaces and reduced core. There are common medium
sized, sub-rounded quartz grains. Occasional fragments of flint or chalk are present, which are probably detrital
in the sand temper.

Four sherds have been identified as coming from jars. Amongst these, are 2 rims. One is a simple ,
rounded everted type, the other a thickened, straight edged everted rim. A single sherd has a clear,
exterior glaze. No sherds are decorated.

Transitional Sandy Ware

Two fabrics are present within this group. These wares are defined as being well fired, wheelthrown,
fine sandy wares. In Southampton this group are known as Late Well Fired Sandy Wares. The fabrics
present here have been identified in Romsey and elsewhere:

Fabric FQ6 is a well fired, reduced greyware with common, fine sized sub-rounded quartz grains.

Fabric FQ7 Has a grey core with orange surfaces. It is well fired with common fine quartz inclusions.

Summary

There is less regionality in the late medieval wares, compared to the earlier types. The wares present
here are common throughout the Test Valley and therefore it is unclear where Nursling was being
supplied from in this period. The small assemblage, when compared to earlier periods, suggests that
this was not a major phase of occupation at the site.

POST MEDIEVAL WARES

There are only 9 sherds of post medieval (16th-18th century) pottery in the assemblage. They will not
be described in detail, because of the small quantity. The most common ware is Verwood-type
Ware, common in Romsey, Southampton and ubiquitous in assemblages from west Hampshire, east
Dorset and east Wiltshire. The fabric is an iron rich, well made, fine sandy ware. There are 2 sherds
of Post Medieval Redware, probably produced further east. This is a well fired, iron rich redware
with a clear glaze. It is the second most common post medieval ware in Southampton and Romsey.
There are single sherds of Border Ware (Pearce 1992) and Post Medieval Brown Glazed Ware,
possibly produced at Alderholt. There is also a single sherd of Raeren-type Stoneware.

EARLY MODERN WARES

There are 13 sherds of 17th-20th century wares. The earliest, and most common, are 3 sherds of Tin
Glazed Ware. There are single sherds of Porcelain, English Stoneware and Scratch Blue. There are 3
sherds of transfer printed Refined Earthenware and 4 fragments of flower pot.

POTTERY BY FEATURE
 Ditch 102 (table 3)

The ditch has two fills, contexts (303) and (304). Context (303) contained 2 sherds, a small fragment
of South Hampshire Redware and a small fragment of Wessex Coarseware. Context (304) contained
24 sherds of mixed date. The earliest sherd is a small fragment of Roman pottery. There is a single,
large, sherd of Flint Tempered Ware, 10 small sherds of Wessex Coarseware, 3 small sherds of
Southampton Coarseware, 2 small sherds of Kennet Valley ‘B’ Ware and 2 exceptionally small sherds
of Southampton Sandy Ware. The later sherds are considerably larger and consist of sherds of
Verwood-type Ware, Raeren-type Stoneware, Post Medieval Redware, Scratch Blue and Flower pot.
The difference in fragmentation would suggest that the medieval material is all residual and was
redeposited as spoil during the filling of the ditch, with some contemporary waste, in the post
medieval period, perhaps the 17th-18th centuries.

303 304 Total

Period Ware Name SC SW ASW SC SW ASW SC SW
Roman 1 2 2 1 2
Flint and Sand Tempered
Early Medieval Ware 1 19 19 1 19
Wessex Coarseware 1 6 6 10 40 4 11 46
Early Medieval Total 1 6 6 11 59 5 12 65
Southampton Coarseware 3 26 9 3 26
Kennet Valley B 2 14 7 2 14
13th-14th Century
South Hampshire Redware 1 11 11 1 11
Southampton Sandy Ware 2 5 3 2 5
13th-14th Century Total 1 11 11 7 45 6 8 56
Verwood 1 30 30 1 30
Post Medieval Post Medieval Redware 1 30 30 1 30
Raeren-type Stoneware 1 13 13 1 13
Post Medieval Total 3 73 24 3 73
Scratch Blue 1 5 5 1 5
Modern
Flower Pot 1 120 120 1 120
Modern Total 2 125 63 2 125
Total 2 17 8.5 24 304 13 26 321
Table 3: Pottery from Ditch 102.

Ditch 112 (table 4)

This feature has a single fill (311). All of the pottery is medieval in date. The earliest pottery is 2 small
sherds of Flint Tempered Ware. There are 5 small sherds of Flint and Sand Tempered Ware, 26 small
sherds of Wessex Coarseware and 2 moderately sized sherds of Fine Sandy Ware. The bulk of the
material is 13th-14th century date. There are 17 large sherds of Southampton Coarseware and small
sherds of Southampton Sandy Ware and Whiteware with Flint. There are also 4 small sherds of
Wessex Redware and a single sherd of Transitional Sandy Ware. The ditch seems to have been filled
in the 14th century, with some redeposited material and a secondary deposit of contemporary
Southampton Coarseware sherds.
 311
Period Ware Name SC SW ASW
Saxon Coarse Flint Tempered Ware 2 13 7
Saxon Total 2 13 7
Flint and Sand Tempered
Ware 5 28 6
Early Medieval
Wessex Coarseware 26 125 5
Fine Sandy 2 25 13
Early Medieval Total 33 178 5
Southampton Coarseware 17 350 21
13th-14th Century Southampton Sandy Ware 1 3 3
Whiteware with Flint 1 4 4
13th-14th Century Total 19 357 19
Wessex Redware 4 42 11
14th-15th Century
Transitional Sandy Ware 1 8 8
14th-15th Century Total 5 50 10
Unid. 3 8 3
Total 62 606 10
Table 4: Pottery from Ditch 112.

Ditch 129 (table 5)

This ditch has 5 fills of various date. Context (321) contained 6 small sherds of Wessex Coarseware
and a single small sherd of Flint and Sand Tempered Ware. There are 6 moderately sized sherds of
Southampton Sandy Ware. The deposit would appear to consist of redeposited material, deposited
in the 13th-14th century. Context (325) contained a single small sherd of Wessex Coarseware, which
may be residual. All of the material in context (326) could be redeposited/residual. There are single
small sherds of Wessex Coarseware and Flint and Sand Tempered Ware. There are also 3 moderately
sized sherds of Southampton Coarseware and a single small sherd of Southampton Sandy Ware, with
a small sherd of Late Medieval Organic Tempered Ware. It can be suggested that this deposits of
redeposited material, but perhaps deposited in the 14th century. Context (335) contained a small
sherd of Wessex Coarseware and a moderately sized sherd of Transitional Sandy Ware. A small sherd
of Verwood-type may be intrusive. The deposit may date to the 15th century. Context (339)
contained a moderately sized sherd of Flint and Sand Tempered Ware and a small sherd of Wessex
Coarseware. The ditch would seem to have been dug in the early medieval period, when a small
quantity of contemporary material was deposited (context (339)). The remaining layers consist of
redeposited material, perhaps dumped into the ditch during the 14th-15th centuries.
 321 325 326 335 339 Total
Ware Date Ware Name SC SW ASW SC SW ASW SC SW ASW SC SW ASW SC SW ASW SC SW
Flint and Sand Tempered Ware 1 5 5 1 4 4 1 17 17 3 26
Early Medieval
Wessex Coarseware 6 18 3 1 5 5 1 4 4 1 6 6 1 9 9 10 42
Early Medieval Total 7 23 3 1 5 5 2 8 4 1 6 6 2 26 13 13 68
13th-14th Southampton Coarseware 3 37 12 3 37
Century Southampton Sandy Ware 6 88 15 1 5 5 7 93
13th-14th Century Total 6 88 15 4 42 11 10 130
Late Medieval Organic Tempered
14th-15th Sandy Ware 1 5 5 1 5
Century
Transitional Sandy Ware 1 14 14 1 14
14th-15th Century Total 1 5 5 1 14 14 2 19
Post Medieval Verwood 1 2 2 1 2
Total 13 111 9 1 5 5 7 55 8 3 22 7 2 26 13 26 219
Table 3: Pottery from Ditch 129

320 323 324 334 338 Total

Period Ware Name SC SW ASW SC SW ASW SC SW ASW SC SW ASW SC SW ASW SC SW
Roman 1 4 4 1 4
Coarse Flint Tempered
Saxon Ware 1 3 3 1 3
Flint and Sand Tempered
Early Medieval Ware 3 14 5 2 6 3 5 20
Wessex Coarseware 7 53 8 1 5 5 11 81 7 1 6 6 2 16 8 22 161
Early Medieval Total 7 53 8 1 5 5 14 95 7 3 12 4 2 16 8 27 181
Southampton Coarseware 10 42 4 2 5 3 3 18 6 2 79 40 1 5 5 18 149
13th-14th Century
Southampton Sandy Ware 1 5 5 1 5
13th-14th Century Total 10 42 4 2 5 3 4 23 6 2 79 40 1 5 5 19 154
14th-15th Century Wessex Redware 1 13 13 1 13
Post Medieval Verwood 1 3 3 1 3
Modern Tin Glazed Ware 3 7 2 3 7
Total 22 109 5 4 23 6 18 118 7 6 94 16 3 21 7 53 365
Table 4: Pottery from Ditch 138
Ditch 138 (table 4)

This ditch contained 5 contexts. Context (320) would seem to be the final fill. It has a very mixed
assemblage, with 22 very small sherds being present, ranging from Roman to early modern date.
Context (323) seems to date to the 14th century, on the basis of a single, moderately sized sherd of
Wessex Redware and smaller sherds of Southampton Coarseware and Wessex Coarseware. Context
(324) also contains only small sherds, principally dating to the early medieval period, although the 11
sherds of Wessex Coarseware could date to as late as the 14th century. Context (334) has a similar
composition, although there are 2 large sherds of Southampton Coarseware, which may be a
secondary deposit. A small sherd of Verwood-type is likely to be intrusive. The final fill (338) can also
be dated to the 13th century. It seems that this ditch was filled slowly, possibly simply through silting,
with small quantities of pottery building up over time. The groups seem relatively well sealed,
despite their small size, suggesting this process was fairly quick. The final layer would seem to be a
dump of redeposited material used to close the feature.

Posthole 142 (table 5)

This posthole would seem to date to the post medieval period. A small sherd of Fine Sandy Ware is
probably residual. The contemporary material consists of single sherd of Border Ware and Post
Medieval Brown Glazed Ware.

301
Period Ware Name SC SW ASW
Early
Medieval Fine Sandy 1 5 5
Border Ware 1 9 9
Post
Medieval Post Medieval Brown Glazed
Ware 1 5 5
Post Medieval Total 2 14 7
Total 3 19 6
Table 5: Pottery from Posthole 142

Pit 144 (table 6)

This pit contained 9 small sherds. They are likely to be redeposited. All of the pottery is of early
medieval date.

144
Period Ware Name SC SW ASW
Coarse Flint Tempered
Saxon Ware 1 2 2
Early Medieval Wessex Coarseware 3 19 6
Unid. Unid. 5 7 1
Total 9 28 3
Table 6: Pottery from Pit 144

Pit 146 (table 7)

This pit contained 2 sherds, a moderately sized sherd of Wessex Coarseware and a small sherd of
Southampton Coarseware. A 13th century date seems appropriate for its filling, however it must be
remembered that this is on the basis of only 2 sherds.
 305
Period Ware Name SC SW ASW
Early Medieval Wessex Coarseware 1 13 13
Southampton
13th-14th Century Coarseware 1 5 5
Total 2 18 9
Table 7: Pottery from Pit 146

Posthole 186

This feature contained a single sherd of Flower Pot. An early modern date can be suggested for its
filling.

Posthole 190 (table 8)

This feature contained 5 sherds of mixed date. A single small sherd of Wessex Coarseware may be
residual. There are larger sherds of Transitional Sandy Ware, Post Medieval Redware and flower pot,
with a small sherd of Verwood. It could be suggested on the basis of the larger sherds that the
posthole was filled in the 16th-17th century.

190
Period Ware Name SC SW ASW
Early Medieval Wessex Coarseware 1 4 4
Transitional Sandy
14th-15th Century
Ware 1 31 31
Verwood 1 5 5
Post Medieval Post Medieval
Redware 1 39 39
Post Medieval Total 2 44 22
Modern Flower Pot 1 41 41
Total 5 120 24
Table 8: Pottery from Posthole 190

Ditch 210 (table 9)

The ditch contains 2 fills. Layer (308) contained 17 very small sherds, 7 of early medieval date and 5
dating to the 13th-14th century. There are 4 sherds of Wessex Redware and a single small sherd of
Flower Pot, which may be intrusive. A 14th-15th century date seems appropriate for the deposit.
Layer (327) has a similar composition. The presence of 7 sherds of Whiteware with flint between the
2 deposits suggests relatively quick deposition as some are likely to be from the same vessel.

Posthole 224 (table 10)

This posthole would seem to date to the mid-Saxon period. It contained 51 sherds from a single mid-
Saxon organic tempered ware vessel and a single large sherd of Flint Tempered Ware. There are 12
early medieval sherds, 5 of 13th-14th century date and a single small sherd of Wessex Coarseware. All
of these would appear to be intrusive.
 308 327 Total
Period Ware Name SC SW ASW SC SW ASW SC SW
Flint and Sand Tempered
Ware 3 17 6 3 17
Early Medieval
Wessex Coarseware 3 6 2 3 17 6 6 23
Fine Sandy 1 3 3 1 3
Early Medieval Total 7 26 4 3 17 6 10 43
Southampton Coarseware 2 9 5 1 11 11 3 20
Southampton Sandy Ware 1 2 2 1 2
13th-14th Century
Iron Rich Whiteware 1 3 3 1 3
Whiteware with Flint 2 13 7 9 44 5 11 57
13th-14th Century Total 5 25 5 11 57 5 16 82
14th-15th Century Wessex Redware 4 15 4 1 12 12 5 27
Modern Flower Pot 1 1 1 1 1
Total 17 67 4 15 86 6 32 153
Table 9: Pottery from Ditch 210.

318
Period Ware Name SC SW ASW
Roman 1 15 15
Mid-Saxon Organic Tempered with Fine
Saxon Sand 51 503 10
Coarse Flint Tempered Ware 1 32 32
Saxon Total 52 535 10
Flint and Sand Tempered Ware 8 109 14
Early Medieval
Wessex Coarseware 4 18 5
Early Medieval Total 12 127 11
Southampton Coarseware 4 7 2
13th-14th Century
Southampton Sandy Ware 1 6 6
13th-14th Century Total 5 13 3
14th-15th Century Wessex Redware 1 4 4
Total 71 694 10
Table 10: Pottery from Posthole 224

Feature 226

This feature contained 2 small sherds, one of Flint Tempered Ware and one of Wessex Coarseware.
An early medieval date can be suggested.

Ditch 229

The ditch contained a small sherd of Flint and Sand Tempered Ware and a small sherd of
Southampton Coarseware. A 13th century date can be suggested.

CONCLUSIONS
Most of the pottery from the site was recovered from ditches and was generally redeposited,
suggesting some waste was allowed to build up on the ground surface, before being redeposited.
The only definite secondary deposit is the mid-Saxon Organic Tempered jar placed in posthole 224.
Some larger sherds in the ditch may be secondary deposits, added to the tertiary, redeposited
dumped material.

The assemblage itself is of interest because its character is more similar to that of the assemblage
from Southampton than those higher in the Test Valley. It can be suggested that the orientation of
pottery supply may have changed in the 12th-13th centuries. The composition of the assemblage is
also interested, with coarsewares dominating and there being very few glazed sandy ware jug
sherds. This is perhaps related to a different pattern of ceramic use at this rural site, when compared
to the urban centres of Romsey and Southampton.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
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.

Musty, J., Algar, D. And Ewence, P., 1969 ‘The Medieval Pottery Kilns at Laverstock, near Salisbury,
Wiltshire, Archaeologia 52, 83-150.

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

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

Vince, A, Lobb, S, Richards, J and Mepham, L. 1997, Excavations in Newbury, Berkshire 1979-1990,
Wessex Archaeology Report 13.