Medieval Pottery from Romsey: an Overview

Proc. Hampshire Field Club Archaeol. Soc. 67 (pt. II), 2012, 323–346 (Hampshire Studies 2012) MEDIEVAL POTTERY FROM ROMSEY: AN OVERVIEW By BEN JERVIS ABSTRACT is evidence of both prehistoric and Roman occupation, but this paper will deal only with This paper summarises the medieval pottery recovered the medieval archaeology, from the mid-Saxon from excavations undertaken by Test Valley Archae- period to the 16th century. ological Trust in Romsey, Hampshire from the Several excavations took place between the 1970’s–1990’s. A brief synthesis of the archaeology of 1970’s–90’s in the precinct of Romsey Abbey Romsey is presented followed by a dated catalogue of (see Scott 1996). It has been suggested on the pottery types identified, including discussions of the basis of historical evidence and a series fabric, form and wider affinities. The paper concludes of excavated, early, graves that the late Saxon with discussions of the supply of pottery to Romsey in abbey was built on the site of an existing eccle- the medieval period and also considers ceramic use siastical establishment, possibly a minster in the town. church (Collier 1990, 45; Scott 1996, 7). The foundation of the nunnery itself can be dated to the 10th century (Scott 1996, 158), but it INTRODUCTION was evacuated in AD 1001, due to the threat of Danish attack, being re-founded later in The small town of Romsey has been the focus the 11th century. The abbey expanded during of much archaeological excavation over the last the Norman period, with the building of the 30–40 years, but very little has been published choir and nave (Scott 1996, 7). The cloisters (although see Green & Lockyear 1992; Scott and western domestic range were constructed 1996). These excavations have recovered a in the 13th century and additional aisles were large quantity of medieval pottery, the details added in the 15th century (Scott 1996, 9). From of which have not been widely disseminated. the fourteenth century onwards the Abbey This paper synthesises the pottery from several went into decline, (Collier 1990, 50). Much of excavations carried out by the Test Valley the Abbey was demolished in the 16th century, Archaeological Trust, and is a product of the during the dissolution (Scott 1996, 9). authors PhD thesis. The paper begins with an Away from the abbey, the earliest evidence overview of the sites considered, before moving of medieval activity is a series of mid-late Saxon on to discuss the pottery itself. This discussion iron working layers, which may be indicative of consists of a catalogue of the types present, a Romsey’s role as estate centre in the mid-Saxon discussion of its distribution in the town, and period (7th–9th centuries) (Scott unpubl, 8). what this can tell us about the trade in pottery Evidence of iron working was recovered from and its use in medieval Romsey. excavations at Narrow Lane and Creatures Pet Shop. Faunal evidence from the mid-Saxon layers at the Midland Bank site are suggestive of THE HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY OF high status occupation, and may be associated ROMSEY with a minster church or estate centre (Scott 1996, 158). At Bell Street, several late Saxon Romsey lies on the River Test, approximately buildings were excavated. They were associ- 9.5 miles north west of Southampton. There ated with late Saxon pottery and are of typical 323 hants 2012b.indb 323 20/08/2012 10:12:43 324 HAMPSHIRE FIELD CLUB AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY Fig. 1 Plan of archaeological excavations in Romsey post-built construction (Scott unpubl, 13). the Abbey. At Narrow Lane, Bell Street and Amongst the sites discussed in this paper, very the Creatures Pet Shop site, several layers were few features of secure Anglo-Saxon date will identified dating to the 14th–15th centuries be discussed and therefore only a very broad and probably relate to gardening activity. His- overview of these wares will be presented. torical documents attest to many properties in The bulk of the pottery discussed in this Romsey having gardens (Merrick 1989, 4). At paper comes from deposits dated from the Love Lane a series of features were excavated 12th–14th centuries. The pottery from seven which contained small quantities of pottery, sites is discussed. In addition to the sites generally dating to the 11th–13th centuries. mentioned above, these consist of medieval At 11 The Hundred a length of late Saxon deposits excavated at 11 The Hundred, 15 The ditch was excavated, along with 14 pits and 15 Hundred, Church Street and Newton Lane postholes dating to the medieval period. The Link Road (Fig. 1). The comments on these ditch may have been a boundary feature and sites are based on the excavators site archive contained a very mixed pottery assemblage, reports, and archive pottery reports written by mostly of 10th–12th century date. It was cut the author. These can all be found with the site by two pits which can be dated to the post- archives, deposited with Hampshire County conquest period, on the basis of large pottery Museums Service. The dates for the pottery sherds. At least two of the medieval pits were types mentioned in the overview of these sites cess pits and these form an alignment, which are discussed in detail below. may have marked a property boundary. The Very little later activity was identified at the pottery from these pits is very fragmented and sites discussed above, with the exception of is likely to have been redeposited, with the pits hants 2012b.indb 324 20/08/2012 10:12:47 JERVIS: MEDIEVAL POTTERY FROM ROMSEY: AN OVERVIEW 325 possibly having been emptied, based on the were dug, and a new channel was dug into the fact that some were recut. A line of postholes ‘shitlake’. This is one of a number of streams may relate to a building which fronted onto the running through Romsey and acted as a drain Hundred. The bulk of these pits probably date for the privies for houses in this area (Scott to the 12th–13th centuries, with two having a 1996, 5). The pits at the site were filled in later, 14th–15th century, date on stratigraphic different ways, some principally contain rede- grounds. Much of the pottery in these pits is posited material, whilst others contain more residual, but a number of types are present intact deposits, seemingly dumped quickly, which are indicative of this later date, including directly into the features. Others have mixed coarse border ware and transitional sandy depositional histories. In the 14th–15th wares (see below). The cess layers are likely centuries a boundary ditch was dug along to have been periodically sealed with layers of Newton Lane. Two clusters of pits date to this redeposited waste material, and the pits closed phase. These contain a large quantity of frag- with dumps of similar material. mented, residual pottery sherds and are likely The medieval sequence at 15 The Hundred to have been filled with redeposited material. is less clearly defined and many of the pits had Analysis of the fragmentation of certain wares been cut by post-medieval features. A stretch suggests that this residual material was mixed of Anglo-Saxon ditch was excavated, which with contemporary rubbish, with sherds of may be related to that from 11 The Hundred. 14th–15th century types generally being the This contained a sherd of fine, wheelthrown largest in these features. sandy ware, of possible late Saxon date. In The final large assemblage included in this the southern part of the site, two pits were study is that from Church Street. A series of excavated. The primary fill of one dates to the channel and ditch sections were excavated 12th–13th centuries, with the uppermost layers here, the pottery in which generally dates to having a 14th–15th century date. The other the 11th–12th centuries. A yard, consisting of was filled with redeposited material, perhaps in several layers of oyster shell and earth, as well the 14th century. In the eastern part of the site as a contemporary gravel surface, was identi- two phases of pit digging can be identified on fied. The earliest pits at this site were heavily stratigraphic grounds. The earliest phase would disturbed, but the pottery is suggestive of an seem to date from the 11th–12th centuries, 11th–13th century date. A further series of based on the small quantities of pottery layers, structural features and a well could recovered, which include Wessex coarsewares be dated to the 14th–15th centuries. The and Flint and Sand Tempered wares. The later ceramic evidence suggests that the well was pits seem to date from the 13th–14th centuries, closed with a series of dumps of redeposited based on the presence of Laverstock-type wares, material in the late 14th century. Two pits South Hampshire redware and Wessex redware were filled in the 14th century, with a mixture see below). A series of structural features were of contemporary dumps and earlier, redepos- also excavated, which can tentatively be dated ited material. A single 15th century pit was to the 12th–14th centuries, on the basis of very excavated, which contained large sherds of small quantities of pottery. transitional sandy ware, Wessex redware and The Newton Lane Link Road excavations other late medieval types, including sherds recovered evidence of Prehistoric and Roman of Tudor green and Siegberg stoneware. A occupation, as well as a series of Anglo-Saxon, further well was also filled at around the same medieval and post-medieval features. Only time, principally with dumps of redeposited Roman pottery was excavated from the features material.

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