The Medieval and Post-Medieval Pottery

by M. Chard

Local Wares

These show marked similarity to well-known local traditions on Tyneside and in Durham but, with occasional exceptions, the fabrics cannot be identified with specific fabric types from those areas. Presumably, therefore, they have a more local provenance.

Buff Wares, 13th/Early 14th Century

Similar to Tyneside buff/white wares (Ellison 1981) and buff fabrics from Durham City, with abundant or moderate quartz temper. Both glazed and unglazed wares are present and oxidised and reduced, or part-reduced wares.

Vessel forms: square-section cooking pot rim (Context 068).

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Iron-rich Oxidised Wares, 13th/Early 14th Century

Abundantly quartz-tempered orange/buff fabrics. Glazed and unglazed wares.

Distribution:

Early (Late 13th/Early 14th Century) Reduced Greenwares

Moderate fine and medium quartz-tempered mid-grey fabrics; spash glazed.

Distribution:

Late (14th/15th Century) Reduced Greenwares

Often superficially similar to RG4 (see below) but all contain fine and occasional medium quartz temper. The majority are probably made from local clays with little iron content. Oxidised margins are buff and the reduced fabric generally mid to light grey, though some have dark grey/ black surfaces. Most fragments are covered externally with a greenish brown lead slip glaze.

Vessel forms: Lid-seated jug rim similar to Castle Ditch no.23 (Ellison 1981) and the rim neck and strap handle of a cistern with a projecting cordon (Context 217).

Distribution:

Reduced Greenware Type 4 (RG4)

The common Tyneside late reduced greenware. A hard, smooth, dark grey fabric without visible inclusions (see Ellison 1981).

Distribution:

Late 15th/Early 16th Century Reduced Greenwares

These are characterised by a full internal and external cover of slip glaze and a dark grey fabric softer than RG4, with occasional quartz inclusions and light grey margins. Very similar to Tyneside type RG5 (Ellison 1981).

Distribution:

Late Medieval or Early Post-Medieval Oxidised Wares

One example in Context 330. A rim fragment in pink/buff moderate medium quartz tempered fabric, with internal and external yellow/green glaze.

Cistercian Ware

There seems to have been some production in this area (kiln wasters were found during work at St. Mary's College in Durham) though some of the earlier examples may come from Yorkshire. The few fragments from this site are probably not later than mid 16th century and include fragments decorated with white clay rouletted strips.

Vessel forms: a rim fragment (Context 340) is probably a type 14 cup (Brears 1971).

Imported Early Post-Medieval Wares

Low Countries Redwares

Rim and shoulder fragments of two identical vessels (Contexts 043 and 238), similar in form to Castle Ditch no.239 (Ellison 1981) a chamber pot form dated to the second half of the 16th century. The fabric of both vessels is the same: a soft orange/buff typical of Low Countries redwares but, uncharacteristically, with a moderate medium quartz temper. The full internal and external yellow/orange glaze is typical of post-medieval Loe Countries wares. Fragments with the same glazing in untempered fabric occurred in Contexts 245 and 253.

Cologne/Frechen Stoneware

Fragments of a drinking mug in Context 238. Second half of 16th century.

17th Century English Wares

Redwares

Similar to metropolitan wares from Essex. One example of a slipware plate and fragments of plain glazed hollow wares.

Distribution:

Tin-Glazed Ware

One fragment in Context 090.

Whiteware

Fragment of the base and foot of a tripod cooking pot with internal yellow glaze and a patch of olive green glaze externally (Context 253). The form is similar to a vessel (no.100) from the Blackfriars in Newcastle (Fraser 1987) and Surrey wares recovered in Norwich (Jennings 1981, nos.880-2).