report 7 newton lane link

8/8/2019 Report 7 Newton Lane Link

1/35

Post-Roman Pottery from Newton Lane

Link Road, Romsey, Hampshire

Ben Jervis Archaeological Report 7

By Ben Jervis MA PIFA

INTRODUCTION

This report summarises the Post-Roman pottery from excavations at the Newton Lane Link Road,

Romsey, carried out by Test Valley Archaeological Services in 19??. The earliest features to be

identified were prehistoric layers, possibly of Bronze Age date. There are also a number Roman

features. The earliest medieval activity is a single Anglo-Saxon feature. There are a series of medieval

pits. A pottery report is present in the site archive. This was produced by Helen Rees. This reportdeals with the Roman pottery in some depth, but the medieval pottery is not discussed in such

detail. Therefore the decision was made to reassess this material, as part of the authors PhD

research.

The types mentioned here are defined in Jervis, B. Forthcoming Medieval Pottery from Romsey: An

Overview and fabric descriptions have been lodged with Hampshire Museum Service.

A total of 9 stratigraphic phases were identified, based on the stratigraphic sequence and pottery

spot dating carried out by Helen Rees:

Phase 1: Prehistoric.

Phase 2: Roman

Phase 3: Anglo-Saxon

Phase 4: Medieval (12th

-14th

Centuries)

Phase 5: Late Medieval-Early Post Medieval (15th

century)

Phase 6: 16th

-17th

Centuries

Phase 7: Later 17th Century

Phase 8: 18th

-19th

Century

Phase 9: Modern and unstratified

This report will briefly summarise the pottery from the site as a whole before discussing the pottery

by stratigraphic phase, with selected features being discussed in depth. The discussion will focus on

defining the date (both of features and the pottery) and understanding the site formation processes.

The pottery from the Shitlake will be considered separately. This will be followed by a summary of

the vessel forms present and a discussion contextualising the pottery.


2/35

SUMMARY OF THE POTTERY

A total of 2212 sherds, weighing 32kg were recovered from the excavations (table 1). Of these, 445

were of Roman date and will not be discussed in any depth. The assemblage generally consists of

Ware SC

%ge

SC SW

%ge

SWRoman 445 20% 4965 16%

Mid Saxon Organic Tempered 3


3/35

Border Ware 5


4/35

ase: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

re SC SW ASW SC SW ASW SC SW ASW SC SW ASW SC SW ASW SC SW ASW SC SW ASW SC SW ASW

man 4 14 4 110 1249 11 26 340 13 54 532 10 36 323 9 113 1090 10 90 1249 14 1 7 7

d Saxon Organic Tempered 2 10 5 1 2 2

Qorgf1 1 9 9

nt tempered ware 2 17 9 1 6 6 1 13 13

nt and sand tempered ware 88 1666 19 10 80 8 38 372 10 10 106 11 1 15 15

nt and sand tempered ware (Newbury type) 1 5 5

alk tempered ware 6 65 11 3 26 9 1 17 17 1 5 5

nchester-type Ware 1 10 10 1 8 8 13 153 12

e sandy ware 4 32 8 11 167 15 4 22 6 3 105 35ssex Coarseware 317 3134 10 89 1251 14 212 2278 11 62 899 15 5 103 21

verstock-type Ware 23 309 13 3 84 28 28 698 25 7 78 11

cal Whiteware 8 45 6 4 33 8 2 13 7

uth Hampshire Redware 32 545 17 7 31 4 20 193 10 5 117 23

uthampton Sandy Ware 2 15 8 6 28 5 10 88 9 3 49 16

rrey(?) Whiteware 1 9 9 1 18 18

rset Red Painted Ware 1 9 9

rset whiteware 8 28 4

rmandy Gritty Ware 1 6 6

ntonge Whiteware 3 17 6

Q1 1 14 14

Q3 4 21 5 1 3 3

12 1 16 16

2 8 119 15 6 130 22 10 75 8 2 28 14

4 3 27 9

arg1 1 19 19 3 9 3

arg2 9 41 5 4 76 19 5 38 8 3 23 8 1 8 8

arg3 1 16 16

argmic1 1 15 15

F1 6 120 20

F2 1 11 11 1 36 36 2 23 12 3 17 6

fe3 2 133 67

cal Pink Sandy Ware 2 10 5 1 3 3

feq1 2 24 12 2 21 11


5/35

Q3 6 51 9 3 27 9 14 159 11 2 17 9 1 10 10

Q4 20 175 9 10 104 10 25 263 11 11 169 15

Qargf1

Qfe2 1 13 13 1 5 5 1 8 8

Qfe3 2 16 8

Qfe6 1 4 4

Qmic1 1 13 13

e medieval organic tempered sandy ware 1 15 15 3 64 21 2 9 5 2 22 11

e medieval sandy ware 2 37 19 9 194 22 2 24 12 1 20 20

rder Ware 2 4 2 2 9 5

dor Green 2 3 2 1 1 1 15 32 2 2 3 2-MQmic 1 56 56

st Medieval Brown Glazed 3 14 5 9 21 2

st Medieval Redware 1 21 21 1 10 10 7 171 24 3 48 16

st Medieval Sandy Ware 4 91 23 1 32 32

rwood 10 104 10 18 680 38 82 2117 26 122 3290 27 19 929 49

rian Micaceous Redware 3 98 33

eren-type Stoneware 5 89 18 1 16 16

echen-type Stoneware 1 6 6

sterwald Stoneware 1 36 36

stol-Staffordshire Slipware 1 3 3 2 9 5

Glazed Ware 3 10 3 1 11 11

eamware 1 1 1 3 14 5

affordshire White Salt Glazed Stoneware 1 1 1 1 1 1

rcelain 1 2 2

glish Stoneware 1 9 9 6 100 17

fined Earthenware 2 10 5

id 1 27 27 1 4 4 1 6 6

and Total 12 89 7 110 1249 11 26 340 13 625 7189 12 227 3424 15 645 8271 13 362 6596 18 40 1219 30

Table 2: Summary of Pottery by Phase (Phase 1-8)


6/35

PHASE 3(ANGLO-SAXON)

All of the pottery (26 sherds) from this phase are of Roman date (table 2). There are intrusive Anglo-

Saxon types in the prehistoric layers, with both the organic and chalk tempered wares likely to be of

this date.

PHASE 4(12TH-14TH CENTURIES)

In this phase a new channel was dug to the Shitlake and several groups of pits were dug. A total of

28% of the sherds (23% by weight) were recovered from features belonging to this phase (table 2).

Around half of the pottery is in the form of Wessex Coarsewares, with Flint and Sand Tempered

Wares accounting for 14% of sherds (23% by weight). There are small quantities of medieval glazed

sandy wares. Residual material is present, 9% of sherds are Roman in date, whilst there are also

small quantities of intrusive later types. The following types of undefined date are also present:

FEQ1 Is a buff sandy ware with moderately abundant, sub-rounded iron stained quartz. It may be a form of

Dorset Whiteware. Only 1 sherd was recovered, from a phase 4 feature. If this is a form of Dorset Whiteware itwould be contemporary with this deposit.

FEQ3 is brown/orange throughout with moderately abundant, rounded, medium sized, iron stained quartz

grains. Four small sherds were recovered from phase 4 features, with a further small sherd coming from a

phase 6 feature. At 11 The Hundred and 15 The Hundred a later medieval (14th

-15th

century) date was

suggested for this ware and this site provides no reason to question this.

FQ2 Is buff/grey throughout sandy ware with moderately abundant, fine sized quartz grains. Eight moderately

sized-large sherds were recovered from phase 4 deposits and 6 from phase 5 deposits. Therefore this ware

could date to either phase. At 11 The Hundred it was suggested that this may be a Saxo-Norman type. Whilst

this remains possible its presence in later features suggests that it may in fact be a 13

th

-15

th

century type. Giventhe fact that such sandy wares are ubiquitous in assemblages from this area it is possible that fabric FQ2 had a

long period of currency and that differences in decoration or form, rather than fabric, may indicate temporal

distinctions. The sherds from phase 4 are from layers and therefore are not in an overly secure context.

FQ4 Is a wheelthrown sandy ware which is oxidised throughout. The only inclusions are sparse fine quartz.

Three small sherds are present is phase 4 deposits. A 12th

-14th

century date for this is ware is supported by its

presence in features of similar date at 11 The Hundred.

FQarg1 is buff/white throughout. It has common, fine, sub-rounded quartz grains with occasional iron rich clay

pellets. Possibly Minety type? One relatively large sherd (19g) was recovered from a phase 4 deposit. Smaller

sherds were recovered from later deposits but the difference in fragmentation level suggests that these sherds

are residual. Therefore, this ware is likely to date to this phase.

FQF1 has anoxidised core with grey surfaces. It is wheelthrown and fairly well fired. There are inclusions of

moderately abundant fine, sub-rounded quartz grains and a similar quantity of fine, angular flint which is

generally patinated. There are 6 sherds present in phase 4 deposits and these are relatively large (ASW: 20g).

On this basis it can be suggested that this is a 12th

-14th

century type.

FQF2 is a fine sandy ware with occasional, large, angular flint inclusions. Sherds were recovered from deposits

of 4, 5, 6 and 7 date, the largest sherd coming from a phase 5 deposit. The small quantity of sherds makes it

impossible to assign this ware to a particular phase.

FQfe5 has been identified in Southampton where it is termed Local Pink Sandy Ware and dates to the 13th-14th

century.


7/35

FQfeq1 is buff throughout. There are abundant, sub-rounded fine sized quartz grains with occasional sub-

rounded iron stained quartz. Two, moderately sized sherds were recovered from phase 4 deposits, whilst 2

sherds were recovered from phase 6 deposits. It probably relates to Wessex Coarseware and is therefore likely

to be of 12th

-14th

century date.

MQ3 is an oxidised sandy ware with sparse, medium sized quartz inclusions. There are six sherds from phase 4deposits but larger sherds are present in phase 5 and 6 deposits. On this basis, and the fact that it also occurs in

later deposits at 11 and 15 The Hundred, it can be suggested that this is a 14th

-15th

century type.

MQfe2 Is white/buff throughout. It has moderately abundant, medium sized quartz inclusions, with occasional

black iron ore. One moderately large sherd was recovered from a phase 4 deposit. Smaller sherds in later

deposits are likely to be residual and therefore this is probably a 12th

-14th

century ware.

MQfe3 Has oxidised surfaces and reduced core. There are abundant medium sized quartz inclusions, with

common black iron ore. There are 2 small sherds from phase 4 deposits. It is not possible on this basis to

suggest a date for this ware.

Context: 60

Ware SC SW ASW

Roman 1 8 8

Flint and sand tempered ware 9 60 7

Wessex Coarseware 33 341 10

Laverstock-type Ware 4 67 17

FEQ3 3 15 5

FQ2 2 59 30

FQarg2 4 18 5

FQF2 1 11 11

MQ4 1 7 7

Total 58 586 10Table 3: The Pottery from Pit 59

There are 2 pits of this date in Area A, features 59 and 101. Both are cut by the later pit 61. Pit 59

has a single fill (60). It contained 58 sherds (ASW: 10g) (table 3). Most of the sherds are of Wessex

Coarseware, however there are larger sherds of Laverstock-type Ware and FQ2. There are small

sherds FQarg2 and MQ4. These may be intrusive from the later disturbance, the general character of

the pit being 13th

-14th

century in date. Due to the later disturbance it is not possible to make any

conclusions about the depositional history of this feature. This is also true of pit 101 which had a

single fill (114) which contained only 3 sherds, 2 of which are Roman in date (table 4).

Context: 114

Ware SC SW ASW

Roman 2 18 9


Total 3 36 12

Table 4: The Pottery from Pit 101

In area B there are 2 groups of features, separated by modern drainage features. Pit 247 is believed

to be the earliest feature. It contained 26 large sherds of Flint and Sand Tempered Wares and 10

smaller sherds of Wessex Coarseware Table 5). These wares, and the absence of any glazed sandy

wares, suggests a date early in the phase. There are however 3 moderately sized sherds believed to


8/35

be of later date (late medieval organic tempered ware and MQ4). It is possible that these are

intrusive.

Context: 248

Ware SC SW ASW

Flint and sand tempered ware 26 945 36Wessex Coarseware 10 71 7

MQ4 2 23 12

Late medieval organic tempered sandy ware 1 15 15

Total 39 1054 27


There are three further pits, 261, 244 and 375. Pit 261 has 2 fills (262 and 265) and some sherds are

also labelled with the cut number (table 6). Context (262) contained 3 moderately sized sherds of

South Hampshire Redware. There are further 12 large sherds of this ware is (265). This layer also

contained 3 large sherds of Flint and Sand Tempered Ware and sherds of Wessex Coarseware, FQF1

and Laverstock-type Ware. A 13th-14th century date is appropriate for this pit. The large size of sherds

suggests that the pit contains a secondary, rather than tertiary rubbish deposit. There is an intrusive

sherd of Verwood-type. Four sherds of MQ4 may suggest that the fill dates to the later part of the

14th

century or may also be intrusive.

Context: 261 262 265 Total

Ware SC SW ASW SC SW ASW SC SW ASW SC SW

Roman 1 18 18 1 18

Flint and sand tempered ware 2 59 30 3 70 23 5 129

Wessex Coarseware 2 19 10 1 10 10 9 96 11 12 125

Laverstock-type Ware 1 14 14 1 14

South Hampshire Redware 3 49 16 12 274 23 15 323FQF1 4 85 21 4 85

MQ3 1 5 5 1 5

MQ4 4 48 12 4 48

Verwood 1 2 2 1 2

Total 5 83 17 5 77 15 34 589 17 44 749


Pit 244 has 2 fills, (243) and (369). Layer (369) only contained 3 small, residual sherds of Roman

pottery (table 7). There are a further 2 sherds of Roman date in (243). Sherds are generally smaller

than in pit 261 (ASW: 10g). There are large sherds of South Hampshire Redware, whilst other 13th

-

14th century types including Dorset Whiteware, Laverstock-type ware and Wessex Coarseware are

present. Small sherds of FQ1 and Dorset Red Painted ware may be residual. There is also one sherd

of FQF1 and 2 sherds of MQfe3, both of which may be of phase 4 date. There are intrusive elements,

2 small sherds of Verwood-type. It is possible that sherds of MQ3 and MQ4 may also be intrusive.

The presence of residual material may suggest that at least some of the deposit consists of

redeposited material.


9/35

Context: 243 369 Total

Ware SC SW ASW SC SW ASW SC SW

Roman 2 19 10 3 23 8 5 42

Flint and sand tempered ware 4 35 9 4 35

Fine sandy ware 1 3 3 1 3

Wessex Coarseware 29 253 9 29 253Laverstock-type Ware 8 78 10 8 78

South Hampshire Redware 4 113 28 4 113

Dorset Red Painted Ware 1 9 9 1 9

Dorset whiteware 4 15 4 4 15

FQ4 2 24 12 2 24

FQF1 1 16 16 1 16

MQ3 1 11 11 1 11

MQ4 2 14 7 2 14

MQfe3 2 16 8 2 16

Verwood 2 18 9 2 18

Total 63 624 10 3 23 8 66 647


Pit 375 has a single fill (332). This contained 11 sherds (table 8). Sherds of Flint and Sand Tempered

Ware, Wessex Coarseware, Laverstock-type Ware, FQF1 and FQfeq1 are likely to be contemporary

with the deposit, whilst a small sherd of Chalk Tempered Ware may be residual. The fact that there

is such little residual material may indicate relatively quick deposition. It is possible that the sherds

of FQF1 cross-fit between these pits.

Context: 332

Ware SC SW ASW


Chalk tempered ware 1 7 7



FQF1 1 19 19

FQfeq1 1 22 22

Total 11 130 12


These pits are predated by layer 361, which contained 62 small sherds (ASW: 6) (table 9). Most of

these (35 sherds) are of Wessex Coarseware. There are 8 residual Roman sherds, as well as a single

sherd of MQorgf1 (Anglo-Saxon organic tempered ware with flint). Larger sherds of Chalk Tempered

Ware and Fine Sandy Ware may be contemporary with this layer, whilst some of the smaller sherds

may be residual. Sherds of MQ4 may be intrusive.


10/35

Context: 361

Ware SC SW ASW

Roman 8 35 4

MQorgf1 1 9 9


Chalk tempered ware 1 15 15Fine sandy ware 1 18 18



FEQ3 1 6 6

FQfeq1 1 2 2

MQ4 3 17 6

Total 62 378 6

Table 9: The Pottery from Layer 361

South of the modern drainage trenches a complex of postholes and gulleys were observed. The

gulley 139 is the earliest feature. It contained 16 sherds which are generally small (ASW: 8g) (table

10). There are sherds of Flint Tempered and Flint and Sand Tempered wares, Wessex Coarseware

and Local Whiteware. Whilst some of these sherds may be residual/intrusive the pottery suggests a

13th

-14th

century date. The largest sherd is a sherd of Roman pottery, demonstrating that a residual

element is present. There are three postholes which contained pottery. Posthole 142 contained 2

large sherds of Wessex Coarseware, but also a large sherd of MQ4 and a small, residual Roman

sherd. Posthole 149 contained 3 small sherds of Wessex Coarseware, whilst posthole 151 contained

a small sherd of Flint and Sand Tempered Ware. Whilst the larger sherds in posthole 142 may have

been deliberately deposited as post packing, the smaller sherds are probably residual/redeposited.

Pit 190 has a single fill (194). This contained 6 moderately sized sherds of Wessex Coarseware and a

single moderately sized sherd of Southampton Coarseware. These support a 13th

-14th

century date.

Context: 194

Ware SC SW ASW


Southampton Sandy Ware 1 13 13

Total 7 77 11

Table 11: Pottery from pit 190

The largest pit in area C is 373. This had 2 fills which contained pottery, (304) and (368). The fills are

cessy and contain fragments of building debris. There are 7 small sherds in (304), although 2 sherds

of MQ3 are larger (table 12). Layer (368) contained one large sherd of Wessex Coarseware. The

fragmented nature of much of the material suggests most was redeposited, perhaps to seal cess

deposits. The larger sherds may represent secondary waste, perhaps deposited with the building

debris. This would suggest that the site levelling took place towards the end of phase 4. The cessy

spread (305) probably derives from this same event. This contained 2 very small sherds of Wessex

Coarseware.

Pit 373 and layer (305) are overlain by layer (226) which also contained building debris. The layer has

a mixed assemblage, containing small sherds of Wessex Coarseware, Local Whiteware, FQarg2, MQ3

and Verwood, with larger sherds of FQ2 and Fqarg1 (table 13). This is clearly a mixed layer, which

cannot be dated securely on the pottery alone.


11/35

Feature: 139 141 149 151

TotalContext: 140 142 150 152

Ware SC SW ASW SC SW ASW SC SW ASW SC SW ASW SC SW

Roman 1 18 18 1 7 7 2 25

Flint tempered ware 1 5 5 1 5



Local Whiteware 2 6 3 2 6

MQ4 1 23 23 1 23

Total 16 128 8 4 81 20 3 15 5 1 6 6 24 230

Table 10: The Pottery from Gulleys and Postholes South of Modern Drainage Trench



Roman 1 2 2 1 2

Wessex Coarseware 3 9 3 1 21 21 4 30


MQ3 2 26 13 2 26

Total 7 41 6 1 21 21 8 62

Table 12: Pottery from Pit 373


12/35

The larger sherds may relate to the actual demolition debris, whilst the smaller sherds may be

residual/intrusive.

Context: 226

Ware SC SW ASW

Wessex Coarseware 9 56 6Local Whiteware 1 9 9

FQ2 1 25 25

FQarg1 1 19 19

FQarg2 1 5 5

MQ3 1 4 4

MQfe2 1 13 13

Verwood 2 6 3

Total 17 137 8

Table 13: The Pottery from Layer 226

Pit 400 and its fill (401) is sealed by the clay floor (399). There are 21 sherds (ASW 28g) (table 14).

Sherds of Flint and Sand Tempered Ware, Wessex Coarseware, Laverstock-type Ware and, perhaps,

South Hampshire Redware, are probably contemporary with the deposit, whilst a single sherd of

Roman pottery is residual. A sherd of flint tempered ware may be residual. This is a secure pit which

is relatively closely datable to the 13th

-14th

centuries. The large sherds suggest that this may be a

secondary waste deposit, although this may, in part, be due to the fact that it was not disturbed.

Context: 401

Ware SC SW ASW

Roman 1 4 4

Flint tempered ware 1 12 12

Flint and sand tempered ware 4 186 47Wessex Coarseware 12 316 26


South Hampshire Redware 2 8 4

Total 21 586 28


The recording of other features in this phase is confused and therefore it is not possible to say

anything about the pottery from these features. A range of depositional histories are present

amongst the phase 4 pits. Pit 261 appears to contain at least some secondary waste, whilst pit 244

consists principally of redeposited material. Pit 375 also appears to have been filled quickly,

principally with secondary waste. Larger sherds in pits 373 and 400 may also be demonstrative ofsome secondary deposition. The depositional pattern here is much different to that at 11 and 15 The

Hundred, where the majority of material in pits was redeposited. These are not sealed pit groups of

complete vessels however, and often seem to relate to demolition and the remodelling of the area.

PHASE 5:14TH-15TH CENTURIES

As with phase 4, 2 pit clusters have been assigned to this phase. A boundary ditch was also dug along

Newton Lane. Some postholes have been assigned to this phase, but there is no clear structural

evidence.

A total of 227 sherds were recovered from features of this phase, 39% of which are of WessexCoarseware and 16% (9% by weight) are Roman, demonstrating a high degree of residuality (table


13/35

2). A further 8% of sherds (20% by weight) are of Verwood-type. This may demonstrate that

Verwood was introduced into Romsey during the 15th

century, but it is more likely that these sherds

represent an intrusive element. The only other major type in this phase are MQ4 (4% of sherds).

Other wares were only present in small quantities. These include three small sherds of Saintonge

Whiteware, residual from phase 4 and 2 large sherds of a late medieval sandy ware (contemporary

with the phase). Sherds of Post Medieval Redware, Creamware and Refined Earthenware are

intrusive. Other wares present in this phase, not present in phase 4, are:

FQarg3: Is a wheelthrown, grey/buff throughout sandy ware with abundant fine quartz with occasional iron

rich clay pellets. It is potentially of late medieval date, although only 1 sherd is present, of moderate size (16g).

FQargmic1: Has oxidised surfaces and a reduced core. It is wheelthrown and inclusions consist of moderately

abundant sub-rounded fine quartz with occasional larger grains, sparse iron rich clay pellets and flecks of mica.

This type of ware is a typical late medieval well fired sandy ware and the 1 moderately sized (15g) sherd is likely

to be contemporary with this phase.

FQfe3: Is a Late Well Fired Sandy Ware. It has brown surfaces with a grey core. There are sparse fine quartz

inclusions, with occasional black iron ore .Two large sherds were recovered from phase 5 deposits and are likely

to be contemporary.

MQmic1: One sherd is present, of moderate size (13g). This is a typical late medieval sandy ware and is likely to

be contemporary with the phase.

PM-MQmic: One large sherd is present and is likely to be contemporary with this phase.

Feature 13 is a ditch, with a single fill (12). The ditch runs east-west, parallel to Newton Lane. There

are only 3 small sherds present, 2 of Wessex Coarseware and one of FQarg2, a later medieval type

which may be contemporary with the deposit.

Pit 97 is west of the Shitlake which had 3 fills, all of which contained building rubble (table 15). Fill

(118) may be clay capping, the secondary fill (98) was a dark, gravelly silt which contained domestic

refuse and the primary fill (99) is a charcoal layer. The excavator suggests that it is unlikely that this

pit was a cess pit and that instead it may have been a hearth or bonfire. The pit contained 21 sherds,

however 15 of these have been assigned to the cut number and should be considered as unstratified

within the pit. Layer (99) only has 1 small sherd of Fine Sandy Ware assigned to it, and this may be

residual. The same may be true of 2 small sherds of Wessex Coarseware and 1 small sherd of

Laverstock-type ware from fill (98) and small sherds of Roman and Flint and Sand Tempered Ware

from (99). The 15 sherds assigned to context (97) are generally larger and later in date. There arelarge sherds of Late Medieval Sandy Ware, Late Medieval Organic Tempered Sandy Ware, MQ4 and

FQargmic1, all of which may be contemporary with the filling of the pit. Smaller sherds of South

Hampshire Redware, Flint and Sand Tempered Ware, Roman pottery and Wessex Coarseware may

be residual. If we assumed that these sherds relate to context (98) then we can propose the

following filling sequence for this pit. The charcoal layer represents a burning event and the pit was

then sealed with a mixture of contemporary domestic waste (the building material and later

medieval sherds) and redeposited soil (which contained the residual earlier sherds). The pit was then

capped with a clay layer, which contained small residual pottery sherds. Therefore as with some

phase 4 pits, this feature would appear to have been filled, in part, with a secondary, rather than

tertiary waste deposit.


14/35

Context: 97 99 98 118 Total


Roman 1 14 14 1 6 6 2 20






FQargmic1 1 15 15 1 15

MQ4 2 68 34 2 68

Late medieval organic tempered sandy ware 2 59 30 2 59Late medieval sandy ware 1 27 27 1 27

Total 15 275 18 1 2 2 3 6 2 2 17 9 21 300


Feature: 147 155 161 179

TotalContext: 148 156 161 179 180

Ware SC SW ASW SC SW ASW SC SW ASW SC SW ASW SC SW ASW SC SW

Roman 2 5 3 2 5


Wessex Coarseware 3 12 4 1 2 2 2 19 10 2 7 4 1 21 21 9 61


Southampton Sandy Ware 1 7 7 1 7

Local Pink Sandy Ware 2 10 5 2 10

MQ4 1 4 4 2 7 4 2 5 3 5 16

Total 5 21 4 3 9 3 3 26 9 7 28 4 3 26 9 21 110

Table 16: Pottery from Features East of the Shitlake


15/35

Gulley 84 is the only other feature of this phase located to the west of the Shitlake. It contained 3

very small sherds of Wessex Coarseware and Flint and Sand Tempered Ware, all are probably

residual.

Pit 209 is located to the east of the Shitlake. Like pit 97, it also had a clay capping (175). The lower fill

is (218), a gravelly silt. The excavator suggests that this was a cess pit. Layer (218) contained 1 large

sherd of Laverstock-type Ware and layer (175) contained a large sherd of FQF2, it is unclear how

these came to present in the pit fill.

There are a number of postholes and smaller features to the east of the Shitlake which are difficult

to interpret (table 16). The first of these is pit 127 which was badly truncated by a later pipe trench

and its recording was also confused. It contained 1 small sherd of MQfe2. Posthole 147 contained 5

small sherds of Wessex Coarseware, Fine Sandy Ware and MQ4. Given their size, their presence in

the feature is likely to be the result of the redeposition of soil in the filling of the posthole. The sameexplanation can be extended to the 3 small sherds (Wessex Coarseware and MQ4) in feature 155

and the 3 small sherds in posthole 161. Posthole 179 contained 10 sherds, including a large sherd of

Wessex Coarseware and smaller sherds of South Hampshire Redware, Local Pink Sandy Ware and

MQ4. All are potentially redeposited, however the large sherd of Wessex Coarseware may have

been deliberately selected to be used as post packing.

A further group of postholes were located in the southwest part of Area C (table 17). They have only

been tentatively assigned to this phase on the basis of their stratigraphic position. Posthole 224

contained 2 small sherds of South Hampshire Redware, both potentially redeposited. Posthole 227

contained 31 sherds, with a high ASW (22g). Small sherds of South Hampshire Redware and MQ3may be redeposited, whilst larger sherds of Wessex Coarseware and Fine Sandy Ware may have

been selected as post packing. It is possible however that these sherds too were redeposited. If

these sherds were selected then the posthole may, potentially, belong to phase 4, rather than phase

5. The remaining postholes, 251 and 408, only contained small sherds of Wessex Coarseware, which

are likely to be redeposited. Pit 410 is also part of this complex, this also contained only 3 small

sherds of Wessex Coarseware, which are likely to be redeposited.

The linear feature 294 may relate to phase 5 structures on Middlebrook Street, however the fill

consists only of 2 small sherds of Wessex Coarseware which are likely to be residual. Therefore, it is

not possible to provide an accurate date for this feature. The feature also contained a worn piece ofgilded alabaster, the excavator suggests that this may have been retained to be burnt to produce

plaster.


16/35

Feature: 224 227 251 408 410

TotalContext: 225 227 252 408 411

Ware SC SW ASW SC SW ASW SC SW ASW SC SW ASW SC SW ASW SC SW


Wessex Coarseware 26 631 24 3 5 2 1 10 10 3 22 7 33 668

South Hampshire Redware 2 5 3 1 2 2 3 7

MQ3 1 2 2 1 2

Total 2 5 3 31 696 22 3 5 2 1 10 10 3 22 7 40 738

Table 17: Pottery from Features in Area C


17/35

Pit 353 is to the west of a group of postholes (which did not contain pottery) and the linear 294. Fill

(353) has a mixed pottery assemblage (table 18). Three large sherds (ASW: 24g) of FQarg2 are likely

to be contemporary with the filling of the pit, whilst 2 small sherds of Saintonge Whiteware are

residual (dating to the 13th century). There are 3 moderately sized sherds of Fine Sandy Ware and 4

larger sherds of Wessex Coarseware. These may be redeposited within the fill, which also contained

building rubble.

Context: 354 Total

Ware SC SW ASW SC SW


Wessex Coarseware 4 82 21 4 82

Saintonge Whiteware 2 5 3 2 5

FQarg2 3 72 24 3 72

Total 12 203 17 12 203


Pit 363 is part of the same group as pit 353, but its ceramic assemblage has a different character

(table 19). The ASW is 7g, rather than 17g and consists of 3 small sherds of Wessex Coarseware,

moderately sized sherds of Southampton-type Sandy Ware and Saintonge Whiteware (both of phase

4 date) and small sherds of MQ3 and MQ4. This pit also contained a large quantity of brick and tile.

Both pits appear to have been filled with a mixture of demolition rubble and redeposited pottery,

with small quantities being contemporary with the filling events.

Context: 362 Total

Ware SC SW ASW SC SWWessex Coarseware 3 14 5 3 14


Saintonge Whiteware 1 12 12 1 12

MQ3 1 7 7 1 7

MQ4 2 10 5 2 10

Total 8 55 7 8 55


A great deal of residual pottery is present in features of phase 5 date. In some features, such as pit

97, it is clear from the differential degrees of fragmentation that late medieval types were deposited

as secondary waste, mixed with redeposited earlier material. Although this pit was filled with

secondary waste, others such as pit 259, pit 353 and pit 363 were filled principally with redeposited

pottery. Pottery from structural features is also largely residual/redeposited. By considering the

filling of these features in some depth it is possible to confirm that certain types (FQarg2, MQ4,

MQ3) are likely to be of later medieval date.


Phase 6 features contained the highest quantity of pottery (645 sherds) (table 2). Many of the sherds

are residual however, with sherds of Wessex Coarseware, Roman pottery, Flint and Sand Tempered

Ware and Laverstock-type Ware all accounting for relatively high proportions of the phase 6

assemblage. A single sherd of Normandy Gritty Ware is residual in this phase. Verwood-type waresare common (13% sherds; 26% by weight), whilst small quantities of Rhenish stoneware are also


18/35

present in phase 6 deposits. Larger sherds of Iberian Micaceous Redware, Post Medieval Sandy

Wares and small sherds of Border Ware and Bristol-Staffordshire Slipware are contemporary with

these deposits. Sherds of Staffordshire White Salt Glazed Stoneware, Refined Earthenware and

English Stoneware are all intrusive. Sherds of the following undated types are present in phase 6

deposits, but not in earlier deposits:

FQ12 is a very fine, powdery white ware with few visible quartz inclusions. One sherd, of moderate size, was

recovered from a phase 6 deposit. Its date must remain undefined.

MQfe6 has oxidised surfaces, grey core. Inclusions consist of common medium sized, sub-rounded quartz grains

and larger, with sub-rounded pieces of black iron ore. Only one small sherd is present in a phase 6 deposit and

may be residual.

The features suggest considerable change to the area in the 16th

century, with a group of industrial

features being present and beaten clay floors being present along Middlebridge Street. There are

also a number of pits dated to this phase.

In Area A (the northern end of the site), there are 7 pits. Pit 9 has a single fill (8). Ten large sherds of

Verwood-type are present, along with a single large sherd of Post Medieval Sandy Ware (table 20).

Smaller sherds of Border Ware and Raeren-type Stoneware may also be contemporary with the

deposit, but potentially redeposited, whilst a sherd of Fine Sandy Ware is potentially residual. The

presence of large and closely dated sherds suggests that (8) is a secondary waste deposit, dating the

closing of the fill to the early 17th

century.

Context: 8

Ware SC SW ASW

Fine sandy ware 1 12 12Border Ware 1 1 1

Post Medieval Sandy Ware 1 51 51

Verwood 10 250 25

Raeren-type Stoneware 1 8 8

Total 14 322 23


In contrast, pit 15 appears to have been filled with redeposited material (table 21). The fill (14)

contained 243 sherds, which are generally small (ASW: 9g). Even sherds of 16th

-17th

century types

are relatively small, the largest being a sherd of Post Medieval Sandy Ware (19g). There are a range

of earlier types, the most common being Wessex Coarseware, including a single sherd of NormandyGritty Ware and sherds of 13

th-14

thcentury glazed sandy wares. The pit was clearly filled with a

dump of redeposited soil, perhaps garden soil, which had accumulated over several centuries.

Pit 19 only contained 12 sherds (table 22). These are generally small sherds of earlier types,

suggesting the presence of redeposited material. There is a larger sherd of Late Medieval Sandy

Ware, which may illustrate a mixture of secondary and tertiary waste was present in the fill. 2 Small

sherds of Verwood-type may also be redeposited.

Pit 25 does seem to contain a mixture of redeposited/residual earlier material, including small

sherds of Roman pottery, Wessex Coarseware and MQ3, with contemporary secondary waste,

evidenced through large sherds of Late Medieval Sandy Ware and Verwood-type Ware (table 23).


19/35

Context: 14

Ware SC SW ASW

Roman 8 55 7


Winchester-type Ware 13 153 12

Wessex Coarseware 134 1190 9Laverstock-type Ware 8 61 8

Local Whiteware 2 22 11



Normandy Gritty Ware 1 6 6

FEQ3 1 3 3

FQ2 7 37 5

FQarg1 3 9 3

FQarg2 3 14 5

FQF2 2 23 12

MQ3 9 81 9

MQ4 16 204 13Late medieval sandy ware 1 11 11


Verwood 5 52 10

Total 243 2192 9


Context: 18

Ware SC SW ASW

Roman 2 12 6




Late medieval sandy ware 1 22 22

Verwood 2 9 5

Total 12 82 7


Context: 24

Ware SC SW ASW

Roman 4 44 11



MQ3 1 10 10Late medieval sandy ware 2 77 39

Verwood 2 59 30

Total 20 641 32



20/35

There are also 7 large sherds of Laverstock-type ware. These almost certainly have to be redeposited

given the date of the feature, but demonstrate that even large sherds can be residual or redeposited

within a feature. A further possibility is that these sherds are a transitional late medieval type,

bridging the Laverstock and Verwood-type wares. Such a ware has been observed in eastern

Wiltshire (Lorraine Mepham, pers. comm).

Pit 30 contained only 6 small sherds, but 2 of these, sherds of Tudor Green and Late Medieval Sandy

Ware, can be dated to the 16th

century (table 24). The fill of this pit would appear to be redeposited

however and was certainly not a big rubbish deposit, on the basis of the pottery at least.

Context: 30

Ware SC SW ASW

Roman 3 18 6


Tudor Green 1 1 1

Unid 1 6 6

Total 6 27 5


Pit 35 contained 13 small sherds, all are small and pre-date this phase (table 25). They consist of

Roman pottery, Wessex Coarseware, Laverstock-type Ware, South Hampshire Redware and Local

Whiteware. The fill of this pit, if it does date to this phase, clearly consists of redeposited material.




Laverstock-type Ware 1 3 3 1 7 7 2 10

Local Whiteware 1 7 7 1 7South Hampshire Redware 1 9 9 1 9

Total 7 76 11 6 25 4 13 101


All of these pits principally contain redeposited waste, with the exception of pit 9. Some contain a

mixture of tertiary and secondary waste deposits. Clearly these were not dug as rubbish pits as they

were closed with redeposited soil.

Pit 61 is a large pit, which lies closer to the Shitlake than the pits discussed above. It contained only

14 sherds and the excavator suggests the small quantity of waste present and its proximity to the

Shitlake may indicate that it was a cess pit (table 26). There is clearly a redeposited element to the

pit fill, with small sherds of Roman pottery, Flint and Sand Tempered Ware and Wessex Coarseware

being present. Moderately sized sherds of FQ2 and MQ4 may also be redeposited, whilst 7 larger

sherds of Verwood-type may be contemporary with the pit. The presence of small quantities of

redeposited waste is consistent with the interpretation of this as a cess pit, with redeposited soil

being dumped in the feature as a sealing layer.


21/35

Context: 87

Ware SC SW ASW

Roman 2 22 11



FQ2 2 34 17MQ4 1 12 12

Verwood 7 132 19

Total 14 210 15


In the centre of the site there are a number of industrial features, consisting of lime tubs, wells and

hearths. The lime tubs were used for slaking lime and consist of a wooden barrel, set into a small pit

and packed in with clay or gravel. The upper part of the pits were cut back and lined with roof tiles.

Four of these are present in this area, suggestive of major building works taking place in the 16th

-17th

centuries.

Tub 75 cuts pit 97, which is of phase 5 date. Only 5 very small sherds were recovered from the upper

fill (80). With the exception of 2 small Roman sherds, these can all be dated to phase 6, consisting of

sherds of Border Ware, Raeren-type Stoneware and Verwood-type ware (table 27).

Context: 80

Ware SC SW ASW

Roman 2 4 2

Border Ware 1 3 3

Verwood 1 21 21


Total 5 32 6Table 27: The Pottery from Limetub 75

Tub 176 contained a higher quantity of pottery (25 sherds) (table 28). From context (192), the gravel

packing, 2 small sherds of Roman pottery and a small sherd of Fine Sandy Ware were recovered, all

likely to be residual. Context (193) is a patchy packing fill of 176. This contained larger sherds of

contemporary pottery, sherds of FQfe3 and PM-MQmic, which are typical later medieval to early

post medieval transitional types, with large sherds of Post Medieval Redware and Verwood-type

Ware. There is also a moderately large sherd of MQ3 present, which could be contemporary with

these late medieval types. These larger sherds may represent packing material, contemporary with

the placement of the barrel. The pottery from both phases is suggestive of the packing beingdeposited in this phase, implying they were in use during the 16

thor 17

thcenturies, with tub 176

perhaps being slightly later than tub 75 on the basis of the larger quantity of Verwood present in the

packing deposit.


22/35



Roman 2 6 3 2 22 11 4 28

Flint and sand tempered ware 2 14 7 2 14Fine sandy ware 1 6 6 1 6


FQ2 3 22 7 3 22

FQfe3 2 133 67 2 133

MQ3 1 18 18 1 18

PM-MQmic 1 56 56 1 56

Post Medieval Redware 1 21 21 1 21

Verwood 9 566 63 9 566

Total 3 12 4 22 872 40 25 884

Table 28: The Pottery from Limetub 176

East of the Shitlake are a further group of features, well 173, tiled hearth 165 and a clay storage pit202. There is a second hearth 433 and two pits, 259 and 345, which contained copper working

debris. Well 173 and hearth 165 are very close together but it is unclear whether they were used

contemporaneously or whether 165 cuts 173. It is unclear when the well 173 was dug. The lower fills

(contexts (219), (214) and (191)) contain very little pottery and sherds are generally small (table 29).

Context (219) contained small sherds of South Hampshire Redware and Tudor Green. Context (214)

contained 6 moderately sized sherds of phase 6 wares; Tudor Green, Verwood and a very small

sherd of Tin Glazed Ware. Context (191) contained a single sherd of Wessex Coarseware, with 2

small sherds of Tudor Green and a moderately sized sherd of Post Medieval Sandy Ware. Context

174 contained 25 sherds of mixed material. These sherds include 2 large sherds of Roman pottery,

moderately sized sherds of Flint and Sand Tempered Ware, Wessex Coarseware and Laverstock-type

Ware, with a sherd of possible Surrey Whiteware. Sherds of later types are generally larger, and a

range of late-early post medieval sandy wares are present in this deposit, along with sherds of Tudor

Green, Brown Glazed Ware (possibly of Alderholt type), Post Medieval Redware and Verwodd-type

Ware. All of this suggests that the well was filled with a dump of redeposited material, mixed with

some contemporary secondary waste during phase 6, with the Tin Glazed Ware, Verwood and Post

Medieval Redware suggesting that this occurred in the 17th

century. No pottery was recovered from

the hearth.

Pit 216 was used for the storage and weathering of clay. The lower fills contained no waste and

appear to have been deliberately kept clear of domestic debris. The upper fills contain small

quantities of pottery, most of which is likely to be redeposited (table 30). Context (134) contained

small sherds of Wessex Coarseware and South Hampshire Redware, both probably redeposited.

There is also a large sherd of MQ3. This has a late medieval date and is probably also redeposited.

Fill (203) contained sherds of Wessex Coarseware and FQarg2 which are likely to be redeposited,

whilst small sherds of Tudor Green and larger sherds of Verwood may be a dump of secondary waste

used to seal the pit when it went out of use in phase 6.


23/35



Roman 2 44 22 2 44





Surrey(?) Whiteware 1 9 9 1 9

FQ12 1 16 16 1 16

MQ3 1 23 23 1 23

Late medieval sandy ware 3 72 24 3 72Tudor Green 1 8 8 1 5 5 2 4 2 3 5 2 7 22

Post Medieval Brown Glazed 1 2 2 1 2


Post Medieval Sandy Ware 1 12 12 1 12

Verwood 4 66 17 5 83 17 9 149

Tin Glazed Ware 1 1 1 1 1

Total 2 16 8 6 72 12 4 26 7 25 343 14 37 457

Table 29: Pottery from Well 173





FQarg2 2 24 12 2 24

MQ3 1 32 32 1 32

Tudor Green 2 2 1 2 2Verwood 6 112 19 6 112

Total 5 56 11 12 163 14 17 219



24/35

Demolition layers 210 and 211 are of uncertain date, but have tentatively been assigned to this

phase. Some layers (135), (166) and (182) definitely pre-date the industrial features and these

demolition layers. Of these, only (182) contained pottery, consisting of a fragmented mix of phase 4

wares (Wessex Coarseware, Laverstock-type Ware, South Hampshire Redware and FEQ1) (table 31).

Context: 182

Ware SC SW ASW




FEQ1 1 14 14

Total 11 136 12

Table 31: Pottery from Layer 182

The demolition layer 210 contains a very fragmented and mixed range of material. (table 32) Small

sherds of phase 4 wares are clearly residual, whilst 1 sherd of Tudor Green and 5 small sherds of

Verwood may be contemporary with the deposit. Two small sherds of Refined Earthenware may be

intrusive, or demonstrate that the deposit actually dates to the 19th

century. Clearly it is impossible

to date this layer accurately on ceramic grounds alone.

Context: 210

Ware SC SW ASW

Flint tempered ware 1 6 6


Winchester-type Ware 1 8 8

Fine sandy ware 1 43 43




Southampton Sandy Ware 3 6 2Tudor Green 1 1 1

Verwood 5 27 5

Refined Earthenware 2 10 5

Total 35 275 8


Layer 211 is similarly mixed, whilst a single, small sherd of Creamware may be indicative of an 18th

century date, it could equally be intrusive. Most of the pottery in this layer consists of residual and

fragmented medieval types, although there are 2 small sherds of Verwood and a moderately sized

sherd of MQmic1.

Context: 211

Ware SC SW ASW




FQ2 3 108 36

MQ4 1 3 3

MQmic1 1 13 13

Verwood 2 18 9

Creamware 1 1 1

Total 19 283 15Table 33: Pottery from Layer 211


25/35

A further group of postholes are present, but these were badly truncated by later activity and

principally contain residual pottery. They will not be discussed here.

Several pits appear to have been dug behind buildings on the Middlebridge Street Frontage. Pit 183

contained 16 sherds, including 3 large sherds of Wessex Coarseware and a large sherd of Roman

pottery, all of which are probably redeposited (table 34). Larger sherds of Verwood and sherds of

MQfe6 and Tin Glazed ware are probably contemporary with the pit, however the small quantity ofmaterial makes it difficult to interpret how this pit was filled.



Roman 1 38 38 1 38



MQfe6 1 4 4 1 4

Verwood 1 19 19 7 103 15 8 122


Total 2 57 29 14 246 18 16 303


Pit 364 clearly contains a secondary waste deposit, with three very large sherds of Verwood and a

large sherd of Raeren-type stoneware being present (table 35). Smaller sherds of Late Medieval

Organic Tempered Ware, Fine Sandy Ware and Roman pottery are probably residual, possibly

illustrating the presence of some redeposited material in the fill.

Context: 365

Ware SC SW ASW

Roman 1 50 50

Fine sandy ware 2 4 2Late medieval organic tempered sandyware 1 5 5

Verwood 3 442 147


Total 8 526 66


Pit 345 has 4 fills. The earliest, (378) and (374) contained only small, residual sherds of Wessex

Coarseware and Roman pottery respectively (table 36). Layer (374) is a cess layer, whilst (378) is one

of three gravelly clay layers which seal the pit. Thirty sherds were recovered from (347) including

small sherds of contemporary Bristol-Staffordshire Slipware and Tin Glazed Ware with 5 larger

sherds of Verwood. This layer also contained 3 large sherds of Iberian Micaceous Redware, datable

to the 16th

century. Small sherds of Tudor Green, MQ4 and MQ3 may be residual or redeposited, 8

sherds of Wessex Coarseware and 3 sherds of Roman pottery have to be residual. The sherds of

Iberian Micaceous Redware, all from 1 vessel, suggest that at least some of this material represents

a secondary waste deposit, whilst the residual sherds demonstrate some redeposition. The upper fill

(346) contained 2 large sherds of Verwood-type, with 4 large sherds of Wessex Coarseware and 4

moderately sized sherds of Wessex Coarseware. The mixed nature of this layer may suggest that it is

a slumped garden layer.


26/35



Roman 2 5 3 3 28 9 5 33



MQ3 1 5 5 1 5

MQ4 3 20 7 3 20

Tudor Green 5 7 1 5 7Iberian Micaceous Redware 3 98 33 3 98

Verwood 2 91 46 5 67 13 7 158

Bristol-Staffordshire Slipware 1 3 3 1 3


Total 2 5 3 10 298 30 30 516 17 1 4 4 43 823


This pit is cut by pit 259. Both fills of this pit contained only sherds of residual, earlier types, although

the sherds are generally large (table 37). Without the stratigraphic information, it would probably be

spot-dated to phase 4. The excavator suggests that the fill of these pits may have been moved from

elsewhere.




Chalk tempered ware 1 17 17 1 17


FQ2 1 4 4 1 4

Total 14 285 20 1 4 4 15 289


Layer (272) is the beaten clay floor of one of the Middlebridge Street buildings. It contained a sherd

of Flint Tempered Ware, 10 sherds of South Hampshire Redware and a sherd of Post-Medieval

Brown Glazed Ware. The medieval wares are clearly residual, the Brown-Glazed Ware may be a

contemporary (primary) rubbish deposit. Layer (403) is an ashy deposit layer which underlay one of

the clay floors. It contained a sherd of Wessex Coarseware and sherd of burnt pottery, both possibly

residual.

As with phase 5, much of the material in phase 6 deposits is redeposited. Some of the pits do

contain a mixture of secondary and tertiary waste however, whilst the lime barrels appear to have

been packed with a mix of redeposited gravel and contemporary sherds. The well was filled with

redeposited soil whilst the clay pit 216 was sealed with redeposited material and secondary waste.

Pits along the Middlebridge Street alignment also appear to have a mixed depostional history, with

pit 345 seemingly having been a cess pit, filled with a mixture of secondary and tertiary waste. The

levels of fragmentation do indicate a distinction between contemporary and earlier types, with a

range of post-medieval sandy wares as well as Verwood appearing to be in currency during this

phase, with small quantities of Tudor Green and Tin Glazed ware also being present. On this basis it

can be argued that Verwood was introduced into Romsey from at least the early 17th

century, if not

earlier.

PHASE 7(LATER 17TH CENTURY)

This phase is characterised by site clearance and levelling activity. There are several clearing layers,((54), (120) and (514)) Layer 54 is a spread of silt loam which contained building debris as well as


27/35

domestic waste. Large sherds of Verwood, Post Medieval Redware and Post Medieval Sandy Ware

are probably contemporary with the demolition activity, dating to the 17th

century (table 38). A small

sherd of Border Ware may also be contemporary. There are 25 sherds of earlier medieval types, all

of which are residual.

Context: 54

Ware SC SW ASW

Roman 3 21 7




FQarg2 2 12 6

MQ4 6 102 17

Border Ware 1 7 7

Post Medieval Redware 2 42 21


Verwood 13 175 13

Total 42 578 14


All of the pottery from (120) is residual, consisting of 15 sherds of phase 4-5 wares, including

particularly large sherds of South Hampshire Redware and Southampton-type Sandy Ware (table

39). The source of these sherds is unclear.

Context: 120

Ware SC SW ASW




Southampton Sandy Ware 1 38 38FQF2 1 7 7

MQ4 2 29 15

Total 15 270 18


Two intercutting pits, related to pits 15 and 35 (phase 6) were also dated to this phase, the fills of

both were silty loams. Pit 17 contained 15 sherds of moderate size (table 40). Four sherds of

Verwood and 3 of Post Medieval Redware are likely to be contemporary. The bulk of the material

consists of residual phase 5 (FQarg2) and phase 4 (FQfeq1, South Hampshire Redware, Wessex

Coarseware) wares, whilst 2 sherds of Roman pottery are also present. The entire fill is likely to be

redeposited.

Context: 16

Ware SC SW ASW

Roman 2 46 23



FQarg2 1 11 11

FQfeq1 2 21 11


Verwood 4 49 12

Total 15 219 15Table 40: Pottery from Pit 17


28/35

The fill of pit 49 contains a higher proportion of contemporary material; 24 moderately sized sherds

of Verwood type and small sherds of Tudor Green and Brown Glazed wares (table 41). Large sherds

of Laverstock-type ware and Fine Sandy Ware, as well as a sherd of Wessex Coarseware are residual

whilst a sherd of English Stoneware is likely to be intrusive. Like pit 17 this material was probably

redeposited, based on its mixed and fragmented nature.

Context: 50 51Total





Tudor Green 1 2 2 1 2

Post Medieval Brown Glazed 2 6 3 2 6

Verwood 24 386 16 1 120 120 25 506

English Stoneware 1 19 19 1 19

Total 36 531 15 3 156 52 39 687


Pit 171 was a large pit, just west of the Shitlake channel. It contained a large quantity of animal

bone, particularly horn cores. It also contained 94, generally large, sherds of pottery (table 42).

Contemporary types include 7 small sherds of Brown Glazed Ware and a small sherd of Tudor Green

(possibly residual), 2 large sherds of Post Medieval Redware and 71 large sherds of Verwood. There

are also 5 moderately sized sherds of English Stoneware. These large sherds and the presence of the

horn cores suggests a secondary waste deposit is present within the pit. There is also a redepsoited

element however, with small-moderately sized sherds of several medieval and Roman types being

present in the fill.

Context: 172

Ware SC SW ASWRoman 3 61 20


FQ2 1 21 21

FQF2 1 7 7

MQ3 1 4 4

Tudor Green 1 1 1

Post Medieval Brown Glazed 7 15 2


Verwood 71 2208 31

English Stoneware 5 81 16

Total 94 2507 27


Three further features, 237, an elongated pit, and postholes 235 and 251, form a small complex of

intercutting features at the southern edge of area C. Feature 237 contained a small sherd of English

Stoneware and a residual sherd of MQ4 and posthole 251 contained 3 small sherds of Wessex

Coarseware, all residual in the filling of the feature (table 43).

As with the other pits in the same area, pits 17 and 49 contain a mixture of fragmented redeposited

material, possibly with some secondary waste. A higher quantity of secondary was is present in pit

171, but there is still a redeposited element. All of the 17th

century types present in these deposits

are known from elsewhere (for example Southampton).


29/35

Feature: 237 251 Total



MQ4 1 4 4 1 4

English Stoneware 1 9 9 1 9

Total 2 13 7 3 5 2 5 18

Table 43: Pottery from Features at Southern Edge of Area C


Only 40 sherds were recovered from phase 8 deposits, although the excavator believes that the

clearance layers (210) and (211) may actually date from this phase (table 2). Around half of the

sherds are of Verwood-type, with sherds of Post Medieval Redware Porcelain, Staffordshire white

salt glazed stoneware, Bristol-Staffordshire Slipware and Westerwald Stoneware also being present.

There are very few smaller sherds of earlier types. All of the deposits of this date relate to the

Shitlake (considered below).

PHASE 9(19TH-20TH CENTURIES AND UNSTRATIFIED)

A total of 165 sherds were recovered from phase 9 deposits. They will not be discussed in detail hereas most of the pottery came from the topsoil, but a similar range of wares are present to the phase 8

deposits (table 44).

Ware SC SW ASW

Roman 11 161 15






Southampton Sandy Ware 2 69 35FQ2 4 21 5

FQarg1 2 16 8

FQarg2 1 7 7

FQfe3 1 45 45

MQ4 7 134 19

MQargf1 1 8 8


Border Ware 1 6 6

Tudor Green 3 17 6

Post Medieval Brown Glazed 1 53 53


Verwood 33 1122 34Westerwald Stoneware 1 11 11

Tin Glazed Ware 1 26 26

English Stoneware 3 22 7

Unid 1 45 45

Total 165 3312 20

Table 44: Pottery from Phase 9 Deposits


30/35

THE POTTERY FROM THE SHITLAKE

The Shitlake was the main feature in the central part of the site for much of its history. The Shitlake

is a stream channel, meaning that pottery present in its fills will have been subjected to a great deal

of post-depositional movement due to natural erosion and recutting. It has also been disturbed by 2

modern drain trenches. There are also inadequacies in the recording of the feature (see site archive

report).

The earliest stream channel, 113 may be Roman in date, containing 10 sherds of Roman pottery

(table 45). Channel 81 also contained only Roman pottery. The medieval and post-medieval Shitlake

is defined by cut 65, which cut through the silted up Roman channel. The earliest fills of channel 65

are (115) and (66). There were problems with the recording of these contexts, however they will be

taken here at face value as the report does not suggest a better interpretation. The pottery from

(115) is quite closely datable to the 13th

-14th

century, consisting of sherds of Local Whiteware and

Wessex Coarseware. Sherds of Flint and Sand Tempered Ware and Fine Sandy Ware may be earlier

and Roman sherds are definitely residual. Two sherds of FQarg2 may relate to the end of this phase.

All of the sherds are small, and the low quantity demonstrates that rubbish was not deliberately

dumped into the Shitlake. A similar range of types are present in (66), with sherds generally being of

a similar small size. In addition to the types present in (115) there are sherds of South Hampshire

Redware, MQ4, FQ2, Tudor Green and Southampton-type Sandy Ware. Whilst the Tudor Green and

potentially the MQ4 are potentially intrusive, this seems a relatively closely dated, if fragmented

group, not overly affected by post depositional activity, perhaps sherds were protected by the silting

up of the channel.

The pottery from context (63) is equally tightly dated, but to the post-medieval period (table 45).

There are 10 large sherds of Verwood, a large sherd of Westerwald Stoneware as well as sherds of

Bristol-Staffordshire Slipware and sherds of later Creamware and Porcelain, with a small quantity of

residual sherds. Some of these sherds may have been deliberately dumped into the Shitlake, but the

large sherd size may also be due to their younger date, meaning they have not been subjected to

such intense post-depositional attrition.

In the northern part of the site the earliest evidence of the channel is layer (250). The date of this is

unclear, the report suggests a late medieval spot date, but all of the pottery is of Roman date. It was

succeeded by channel 256, filled by (255). This contained 76 sherds of Roman pottery, probably

residual from the recutting of the channel (table 46). The remainder of the pottery would seem to

date the digging of this channel to phase 4, with Wessex Coarseware, Flint and Sand Tempered Ware

and glazed sandy wares being present. There is some evidence of continued use into phase 5,

through the presence of sherds of MQ4 and Late Medieval Sandy Ware, whilst there are also 4

sherds of Verwood-type. Like the fills of channel 65 the pottery is fairly closely dated.

Whilst the Shitlake does not appear to have been a focus of rubbish deposition, the continuous

silting up of the channel means that groups are relatively closely dated, compared to other features

on the site.


31/35

Channel: 81 113 65

TotalContext: 82 112 115 66 63 64

WareSC SW

ASW

SC SW ASW SC SW ASW SC SW ASW SC SW ASW SC SW ASW SC SW

Roman 2634

0 13 10 51 5 7 34 5 9 127 14 2 25 13 54 577Flint and sand temperedware 11 78 7 4 23 6 1 15 15 16 116







Surrey(?) Whiteware 1 18 18 1 18

FQ2 1 16 16 1 16

FQarg2 2 11 6 1 8 8 3 19

FQarg3 1 16 16 1 16

MQ4 4 33 8 4 33

Tudor Green 2 3 2 2 3


Verwood 10 631 63 1 64 64 11 695

Westerwald Stoneware 1 36 36 1 36Bristol-StaffordshireSlipware 2 9 5 2 9

Creamware 3 14 5 3 14

Porcelain 1 2 2 1 2

Total 26 340 13 10 51 5 32 199 6 35 319 9 25 870 35 4 105 26 132 1884

Table 45: Pottery from The Shitlake in the Central Part of the Site


32/35

Channel: 250 256

TotalContext: 250 255


Roman 19 183 10 76 1085 14 95


Chalk tempered ware 1 5 5 1 5


Laverstock-type Ware 5 53 11 5 53South Hampshire Redware 2 50 25 2 50


MQ3 1 13 13 1 13

MQ4 1 10 10 1 10

Late medieval sandy ware 1 9 9 1 9

Verwood 4 48 12 4 48

Unid 1 4 4 1 4

Total 20 187 9 113 1706 15 133 1893

Table 46: Pottery from The Shitlake (Northern Part of the Site)

VESSEL

FORMS

Due to the fragmented nature of the assemblage and the high quantity of redeposited material, it

was only possible to assign a small proportion of the sherds to particular vessel forms (table 47).

Only jars and bowls were identified in the earliest wares, 2 sherds coming from flint tempered jars,

whilst 5 sherds were from Flint and Sand Tempered bowls, compared to 46 from jars. Bowls and jars

are also present in Wessex Coarseware, whilst a single sherd was also present from a spouted

pitcher and 4 sherds were from tripod pitchers. In phase 4 then, these wares only provided plain

utilitarian vessels. The glazed sandy wares such as Laverstock-type Ware and South Hampshire

Redware were present as jugs, and the Dorset Whiteware sherds are also likely to be from jugs. A

single sherd was identified as a fragment of a Saintonge Whiteware jug. Whilst jars and bowls were

sourced locally then, jugs are present from a range of sources, with the Saintonge vessel suggestingsome supply from Southampton or Poole. Most of the other medieval wares are present principally

as jugs. As at 15 and 11 The Hundred, MQ4 jars and jugs are present within the assemblage, but only

in small numbers. The absence of clear temporal distinctions within the earlier medieval features

means that it is not possible to discuss changes in the forms of Wessex Coarsewares over time.

As is to be expected a wider range of vessels are present in the Post Medieval period. Tudor Green

and Rhenish Stonewares are present both as drinking and serving vessels and the sherds of Bristol-

Staffordshire Slipware are also from drinking vessels. Verwood-type ware is present in a range of

forms, including bowls, bunghole pitchers, chamber pots, jars, jugs, pancheons and tripod pipkins.

These are not present in large enough quantities here to study changes in the types present throughtime, although it may be possible to do this if other sites are also considered.


33/35

Bottle Bowl/ DishB'holePitcher

Chaf.Dish

ChamberPot Cup/Mug Jar Jug Lid Panch.

Spt.Pitcher

TpofPipkin

TpodPitcher Unid Total

SC SW SC SW SC SW SC SW SC SW SC SW SC SW SC SW SC SW SC SW SC SW SC SW SC SW SC SW SC SW

axon Organic Tempered 3 12 3 12

gf1 1 9 1 9

empered ware 2 25 2 11 4 36

nd sand tempered ware 5 234 46 1232 1 30 102 785 154 2281

nd sand tempered ware (Newbury type) 1 5 1 5

tempered ware 6 65 5 48 11 113

ester-type Ware 15 171 15 171

andy ware 1 18 5 132 2 64 21 219 29 433

ex Coarseware 14 492 146 3945 1 151 4 142 582 4106 747 8836

stock-type Ware 1 4 41 1033 23 161 65 1198

Whiteware 6 51 8 40 14 91

Hampshire Redware 47 790 19 114 66 904

ampton Sandy Ware 1 38 2 80 20 131 23 249

y(?) Whiteware 2 27 2 27

t Red Painted Ware 1 9 1 9

t whiteware 8 28 8 28

andy Gritty Ware 1 6 1 6

nge Whiteware 1 12 2 5 3 17

1 14 1 14

5 24 5 24

1 16 1 16

1 21 5 189 3 50 21 113 30 373

0 0 3 27 3 27

1 6 44 6 442 6 90 17 103 23 193

3 1 16 1 16

mic1 1 15 1 15

4 85 2 35 6 120

3 60 4 27 7 87

2 133 1 45 3 178

Pink Sandy Ware 2 10 1 3 3 13

1 1 22 3 23 4 45


34/35

1 11 2 24 1 4 22 225 26 264

1 12 10 190 3 119 59 524 73 845

gf1 1 8 1 8

2 3 26 3 26

3 1 8 1 8 2 16

6 1 4 1 4

c1 1 13 1 13

medieval organic tempered sandy ware 1 52 7 58 8 110

medieval sandy ware 4 133 2 42 10 113 16 288

r Ware 1 7 4 12 5 19

Green 7 22 1 8 15 26 23 56

Qmic 1 56 1 56

Medieval Brown Glazed 2 64 11 24 13 88

Medieval Redware 1 70 11 180 12 250

Medieval Sandy Ware 2 86 11 206 13 292

n Micaceous Redware 3 98 3 98

od 27 1222 2 337 2 71 1 35 14 1406 10 403 1 59 3 168 4 76 220 4465 284 8242

n-type Stoneware 3 77 3 28 6 105

en-type Stoneware 1 6 1 6

rwald Stoneware 2 47 2 47

-Staffordshire Slipware 2 9 1 3 3 12

azed Ware 1 11 1 26 3 10 5 47

mware 1 1 3 14 4 15

rdshire White Salt Glazed Stoneware 2 2 2 2

ain 1 2 1 2

h Stoneware 2 25 5 81 3 25 10 131

d Earthenware 1 7 1 3 2 10

2 25 56 2191 2 337 2 71 1 35 18 222 250 7679 150 3107 2 85 3 168 1 151 4 76 4 142 1268 12353 1763 26642

Table 47: Vessels Present by Fabric


35/35

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

Site Formation

Unlike at the sites at 11 and 15 The Hundred, pits here have a wide range of depositional histories,

with a higher proportion containing secondary waste deposits mixed with redeposited material. This

has made it possible to better date some of the wares present in the assemblage, particularly those

of later medieval date. The Shitlake was not a major focus of deposition, although silting has meantthat groups within it are relatively tightly dated. Large layers did not build up in the excavated areas,

suggesting that these pits were dug into yards, rather than being part of cultivated gardens.

Pottery Chronology

The pottery present did not really contribute to an understanding of the earlier part of the ceramic

sequence. It has been possible however to identify several late-post medieval transitional types in

the Late Well Fired Sandy Ware tradition as well as determine that some wares such as MQ3 are

likely to be of late, rather than high medieval date. It has also been able to determine that FQF1 is as

12th

-14th

century type. This is by far the best late medieval assemblage to have been studied from

Romsey and therefore is very important for our understanding of the development of medievalpottery within the town. It is also worth noting the presence of Dorset types and imported pottery

at the site, however these are only in small quantities and generally are residual, meaning that their

presence has not greatly aided our understanding of the ceramic chronology.

Conclusions

This site provides important information to our understanding of medieval pottery from Romsey,

particularly that of the latter part of the period. Unlike at sites in The Hundred, pits often have a

secondary rubbish element, meaning that not all of the pottery is fragmented. That said, many of

the pit fills do have a redeposited element. The presence of imported wares may suggest the site

had a distinct economic status, however with the exception of the later medieval Iberian MicaceousRedware these are residual in later features so cannot be securely related to onsite use. The pottery

from this site will have a key role to play in any future analysis of the later medieval period in

Romsey.

report 7 newton lane link

Documents