Post-Roman Pottery from Long Sutton,

Hampshire
Ben Jervis Archaeological Report 24
By Ben Jervis MA PIFA

INTRODUCTION
This report summarises the 123 sherds of pottery from Long Sutton, Hampshire present in the
Basingstoke Museum Old Collection. The material is unstratified and can only be dated by analogy
with other sites in the area, the largest of these being Odiham Castle (Duncan Brown pers comm.).
Because of the small size of the assemblage and its unstratified nature only a broad assessment of
the pottery is provided here.

THE POTTERY
The 123 sherds date from the 11th-14th centuries, the most common being early medieval Flint and
Sand Tempered Wares. There are several types present which are likely to date to the 13 th-14th
century. The latest wares are 8 sherds of Wessex Redware, dated to the 14th-15th century.

Flint and Sand Tempered Ware

This is the most abundant type in the assemblage, with 63 sherds being present. This is a common
type of pottery across Hampshire, the nearest local parallel being the Kennet Valley Wares which
date to the 11th-12th centuries (Vince et al 1997), although elsewhere, including in West Sussex, the
tradition has earlier roots, perhaps starting in the 9th century. Eleven of the sherds are from jars,
principally with simple or slightly thickened everted rims with a rounded profile. A single glazed rod
handle, with stick end decoration, is present, possibly from a jug or tripod pitcher. Two sherds are
decorated with thumb impressions. Two fabrics are present:

Fabric FMQ12 has oxidised surfaces with a grey core. The fabric has a sandy matrix, with occasional sub-
rounded, medium sized quartz grains and patinated flint fragments.

Fabric FMQ13 is unevenly fired but generally reduced. The fabric has a sandy matrix with occasional sub-
rounded, medium sized quartz grains and common flint fragments, which are often patinated.

Early Medieval Fine Sandy Ware

A single fine sandy sherd is present which may date to the early medieval period. Fine sandy wares
are a consistent component of assemblages from across north and west Hampshire, but their fabric
is fairly ubiquitous. It is therefore not possible to date this single sherd, which has abundant, densely
packed quartz inclusions, closely.

Wessex Coarseware

There are 17 sherds of Wessex Coarseware, an early medieval (12th-14th century) coarse sandy ware
common in assemblages in central and especially western Hampshire. It is likely that these wares
were relatively locally produced, rather than being west Hampshire products. Further south they are
replaced by a micaceous coarse sandy ware, whilst they are less abundant further north where
Kennet Valley wares dominate. Similar fabrics are present in the assemblage at Odiham Castle. The
fabric is unevenly fired with densely packed, moderately sized, quartz inclusions. Six sherds are
scratch marked and it is likely that all are from jars. A single sherd has a partial glaze.

Coarse Border Ware

There are 17 sherds of probable Coarse Border Ware. This was produced at centres such as Ash in
Surrey and at Aldershot (BJAR 25) and is a buff whiteware with abundant, ill sorted quartz inclusions
with occasional flecks of mica and flint fragments (Pearce and Vince 1988, 9). This is a common
component of medieval assemblages in East Hampshire, particularly in Alton. Two sherds are from
bowls, one is from a jug and the others are undiagnostic.

Iron Rich Whiteware

Iron Rich Whiteware is represented by 13 sherds, with a bowl, a jar and jugs being identified. All
sherds are unglazed. One sherd is combed and 2 are scratch marked. The iron rich white fabric could
possibly be produced from the local whiteware clays of the Surrey/Hampshire border and therefore
these are likely to be local products. A single fabric is present:

Fabric MQfeq2 is buff throughout, with common-abundant, medium sized, sub-rounded quartz grains, around
a quarter of which are iron stained.

Iron Rich Sandy Ware

Two sherds are present, both are unglazed and undecorated and one is possibly from a jug. These
wares are fairly ubiquitous across Hampshire in the medieval period. A single fabric is present:

Fabric FQfe13 has orange surfaces with a grey core. Inclusions consist of abundant, fine sized quartz grains,
with occasional black iron ore.

Medieval Fine Sandy Ware

A single undiagnostic sherd is present. The fabric can be described as follows:

Fabric FQ30 is pinkish/buff throughout, with abundant fine sized quartz grains.

Medieval Sandy Ware with Argillaceous Inclusions:

A single undiagnostic sherd is present, with an exterior slip. The fabric can be described as follows:

Fabric FQarg6 is buff/brown throughout with abundant, fine sized quartz grains and occasional iron rich clay
pellets.

Wessex Redware

Wessex Redware is a common 14th-15th century ware is west Hampshire. These sherds are
representative of the finer variant of this ware which is less common in the west. Similar products
are likely to have been produced at a range of centres in west and central Hampshire. One sherd
could be identified as coming from a bowl. All of the sherds are undecorated and unglazed, which is
typical of these wares. The fabric can be described as follows:
Fabric FQ14 has oxidised surfaces with reduced core. Inclusions consist of common fine sized, sub-rounded
quartz grains.

CONCLUSIONS
It is difficult to draw any firm conclusions from such a small assemblage. We can note however that
the distribution of Wessex Coarseware appears to stretch across central Hampshire and the wares
here are likely to be locally produced. Like other sites on a similar latitude, there are also a high
quantity of Flint and Sand Tempered wares. The glazed sandy wares have a different source,
principally coming from the Surrey Whiteware industry to the east. This is a pattern which seems
common at some other sites in east Hampshire. The coarseware elements of the assemblage seem
to compare well with the pottery from Odiham Castle.

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

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