Monument record MLI81762 - Potterhanworth Medieval Pottery Industry

Summary

Medieval pottery industry in Potterhanworth.

Type and Period (3)

Protected Status/Designation

Full Description

There was a thriving pottery industry in Potterhanworth in the 13th and 14th century, and Potterhanworth types have been recovered from all over Lincolnshire. Examination of new finds in the 1970s (see PRN 60811) established a distinctive shell-tempered fabric as the local product. Forms include cooking pots, bowls, pancheons, pipkins and jugs or storage jars, and a few fragments have wavy line decoration. A few sherds are of very sandy grey fabric with green glaze, which may indicate the production of finer wares. The pots were constructed by pressing a series of coils or 'ribbons' of clay against each other, and the sinuous, not necessarily continuous line indicates that the surfaces of the coils have not completely blended together. The Potterhanworth products appear to be mostly wheel-made and there is no reason to suppose that they were built up by hand since the practice of using coils on the wheel is well-known to potters. Potterhanworth ware types include pieces from the bases of distillery equipment, and these have been found on monastic property, and it may be that monastic houses would be more likely to use this type of equipment. Therefore this type of pottery may have been something in which the potters at Potterhanworth specialised. {1}{2}{3} Pottery has been recovered from all over the village, including wasters from waster dumps. They have been recovered from TF 0558 6592 (AK), TF 0554 6597 (AL), TF 0555 6615 (AJ), TF 0573 6613 (AI). {4} A wall dating from the 13th to 14th century was recorded during a watching brief at Barff Road. After the wall fell into disrepair the area was used for dumping of waste. This includes a large amount of pottery. The quantity of types of which suggest the presence nearby of a pottery kiln. This is supported by the recovery of a kiln stand. {5}{6} A medieval pit containing pottery and burnt clay was recorded during a watching brief at TF 05684 66159. It is thought that the pit may have been used for clay extraction on the periphery of the pottery production area. One hundred and eighteen sherds of 13th-14th century pottery were recovered, of these one hundred and sixteen sherds were of Potterhanworth ware. A high proportion of these were unused and cracked indicating that they are kiln waste. {7}{8} During excavations at Potterhanworth Primary School (TF 0554 6622) a very large clay extractive pit, dimensions of at least 12m x15m x1.6m was recorded. A large amount of pottery was recovered, some wasters but no direct evidence of pottery production. {9}{10} During a watching brief on land adjacent to 'Tally Ho', off Barff Road (TF 0569 6608), a possible medieval clay extraction pit at least 7m in width was identified. A single sherd of 13th-14th century local Potterhanworth ware pottery was recovered from the fill of this feature. {12}{13}

Sources/Archives (13)

  •  Article in Serial: Healey, H.. 1974. Lincolnshire History and Archaeology. vol.9, pp.30-1.
  •  Article in Serial: Healey, H.. 1988. Lincolnshire History and Archaeology. vol.23, pp.85-7.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: McCarthy, M.R. and Brooks, C.M.. 1988. Medieval Pottery in Britain AD900-1600. pp.72, 255.
  •  Index: Lincolnshire County Council. Sites and Monuments Record Card Index. TF 06 NE: AI, AK, AL, AJ.
  •  Report: ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROJECT SERVICES. 1998. LAND AT BARFF ROAD. PBR97.
  •  Archive: ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROJECT SERVICES. 1998. LAND AT BARFF ROAD. LCNCC 249.97.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. 2002. Land at Joiners Cottage, Barff Road, Potterhanworth. PBR01.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. 2002. Land at Joiners Cottage, Barff Road, Potterhanworth. LCNCC:2001.144.
  •  Report: Pre-Construct Archaeology. 2002. Potterhanworth Primary School. POTT02.
  •  Archive: Pre-Construct Archaeology. 2002. Potterhanworth Primary School. LCNCC:2002.168.
  •  Index: North Kesteven Records. Potterhanworth. NK49.28,30.
  •  Report: Pre-Construct Archaeology. 2006. Barff Road, Potterhanworth: Archaeological Watching Brief Report. BRPH06.
  •  Archive: Pre-Construct Archaeology. 2006. Barff Road, Potterhanworth: Archaeological Watching Brief. LCNCC 2006.156.

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Location

Grid reference Centred TF 054 660 (272m by 351m) Estimated from sources
Civil Parish POTTERHANWORTH, NORTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE

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Record last edited

Mar 21 2021 8:35PM

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