In thin-section many of the wares made in Herefordshire and the neighbouring areas of the Welsh borderland have a similar petrology. It is therefore economical to describe the general characteristics of these wares once and only describe the most important and distinguishing characteristics in the individual descriptions.
Out of a sample of 50 thin-sections of Herefordshire wares from Hereford only one had an isotropic clay matrix (a black-glazed tankard). In general therefore the wares are not high fired. Most of the inclusions present are less than 0.7mm across and are angular. Larger inclusions are all less than 2.0mm across and are mainly less than 0.5mm. They are poorly sorted within these size limits with the exception of Hereford A5 which has a well-sorted sand temper, av. diameter 0.3mm. In four clay samples taken from different areas of Herefordshire large sandstone fragments are present but in the pottery fabrics these are only found in the brick and tile fabric (Hereford A10).It is likely therefore that some preparation of the clay took place but scattered large inclusions which are unlikely to be added deliberately to the clay are found in most fabrics. It does not therefore seem likely that the clay of the medieval wares was levigated, since this would remove all large inclusions. However, the fabrics of the Herefordshire post-medieval wares are so fine that levigation is likely to have been practiced.
The major clay source in Herefordshire is the Devonian Marl, part of the Old Red Sandstone measures, and glacial till derived almost exclusively from this marl.These clays contain abundant angular quartz, which is poorly sorted and less than 0.7mm across. White mica is also very common and is often larger than the quartz. Other larger and often rounded inclusions are found, mainly rounded quartz and fragments of various sedimentary rocks, principally greywackes and a few coarser-grained sandstones.Siltstones and mudstones occur (and are particularly characteristic of Hereford A4). Concretionary limestone is present in Hereford A2 and Bredon-type floor tiles (which include fragments with a mixture of sparry calcite and quartz silt). Fossiliferous limestone is only present in one section of Hereford A4. Other inclusions are black mica (Hereford A4), small rounded fragments of felspar, fine-grained intermediate or basic igneous rocks (found in fabrics Hereford A2, A3, A5 and A8 but only common in Hereford A4), brown almost opaque chert (Hereford A2, A3 and A4) and iron ore. In fabrics Hereford A2, A6 the iron ore was irregular in shape but in fabrics A7a and Bredon-type tiles they were rounded particles less than 0.2mm in diameter. Accessory minerals were garnet (Hereford A3), tourmaline (Hereford A3 and A5, zircon (A7b) and a fragment of rhyolite (Hereford A6). The clay texture is usually fine, but several fabrics contain pellets of clay.These are characteristic of the Hereford brick and tile fabric and have the same structure as the matrix. In Hereford A7b dark brown pellets with a spherical structure are found.They often contain a higher quartz content than the clay matrix. White clay pellets, sometimes with quartz and mica inclusions, are found in Hereford A4.
Only one medieval pottery source is known from archaeological evidence, the kiln at Weobley. It is unlikely that this kiln was producing all of the ware of this type, Hereford A7b, on the basis of the differences in typology. It is impossible to characterise this fabric by thin-section, nor the brick and tile fabric, Hereford A10, or a minor medieval jug fabric, Hereford A6. The remaining Herefordshire wares contain sand-tempering which can be characterised, although the approximate source of only two of these wares, Hereford A2 and Hereford A4, is known. Hereford A2 has a temper which compares well with the gravel and sand underlying the town itself, whilst the mudstones and basic igneous rock fragments in Hereford A4 suggest that the tempering comes from a river gravel derived from North Hereforeshire or South Shropshire, probably either in the Teme or the Lugg valley.
Hard
Grey or black core with oxidized surfaces. Some vessels are completely reduced.Olive glaze (5YR 4/4).
Probably Hereford or its immediate surroundings.
Mainly handmade squat, cylindrical vessels with slightly sagging bases and rim diameters ranging from 150 mm to 350mm. Most pots show signs of rotary smoothing around the rim and have a distinct neck and everted rim. There is some thickening of the lip but the precise shape varies. A distinct type is wheelthrown with an inturned rim Most vessels are undecorated but a few have wavy combing on the exterior. Some have glaze spots but this is not a deliberate glaze.
The most complete example is only the top half of a vessel, but they are likely to be of globular profile with a slightly sagging base and three round- sectioned feet The rims are either cylindrical or everted. Handles join the rim near the lip and on the body on the shoulder. Rim profiles are usually either plain rounded or squared and thickened. Handles are rectangular-sectioned and mainly without decoration. One has two ridges on the top surface, decorated with thumb impressions. Spouts are usually pulled.Decoration is restricted to the top half of the body and is either incised with a round-ended tool or a comb. The internal limestone inclusions are often heavily leached.
Only a few examples have been recognised. Both handmade and wheelthrown vessels are known.They differ in profile from the tripod pitchers in being much thinner. No distinctive rim forms were found and therefore jug rims probably look much like tripod pitcher rims. Two strap handles are known, both stabbed. One was added over horizontal bands of combing.Other body decoration consists of crudely applied roller-stamping. Bases are either thumb frilled or have thumb impressions.
One rim from a large cooking pot or storage jar with thumbing around the rim.
One fragment of a flanged tile. Either a flat tile of flanged and curved tile roof or perhaps a decorative flange on a ridge tile.
The ware is only stratified at Hereford. It first occurs in the soil levels of the Brewery site (period 2, layers 7 and 15).These are thought to be sealed by the Northern Rampart buit other pre- rampart collections do not contain any of this fabric, although it is common in immediately post-rampart soils. The highest proportion found is in the Berrington Street site 1 pits (period 4a), 20% by sherd count.These late 12th to early 13th century contexts contain only handmade examples of cooking pots, tripod pitchers and the storage jar rim. Later contexts produced smaller quantities of the ware, but included handmade and wheelthrown jugs. A pre- c. 1320 context at Hereford Blackfriars produced 4 sherds, 3% of the total pottery.
The flanged tile is from a mid-13th century context at Bewell House. Other findspots are few, 6 in all.
Vince forthcoming a.
Hard
Reduced grey or black with oxidized surfaces (10YR 6/1 and 7.5YR 5/4).Glaze is olive (5Y 4/4,, 5Y 5/6).
Angular quartz and white mica silt up to 0.1mm. Thin-sections Hereford; M468-471
Unknown Herefordshire.
Squat, handmade cylindrical vessels.
Globular vessels, handmade with cylindrical or everted rims. Rectangular handles decorated with stabbing or slashing. Pulled spouts are the norm but one free-standing tubular spout is known. Decoration is restricted to the upper part of the body and handle.It consists of bands of shallow grooves, incised wavy lines and bands of combing and wavy combing. Rectangular-toothed roller-stamping is also found but is less common.
Wheelthrown vessels, sometimes completely oxidized (5YR 4/6).
First found in Hereford in early 13th century contexts (slightly later than Hereford A2). Usually forms less than 4% of assemblages by sherd count, but a maximum of 31% occurs in a pit at the City Arms (cooking pots 14%, tripod pitchers 17%). Jugs are found in later 13th century contexts but form less than 2% of assemblages. The only findspots are Hereford and Breinton.
Vince forthcoming a.
Hard
Oxidized surfaces and reduced core. Clear glaze appears patchy green and orange due to incomplete oxidation; copper-flecked glaze also occurs.
Angular quartz and white mica silt up to 0.1mm. Thin-sections Hereford; M472-476.
A North Herefordshire source is likely on distribution evidence. Fragments of basic or intermediate igneous rocks seen in thin-section could come from the Clee Hills and are probably detrital grains from a north to south draining river terrace, such as the Lugg or the Teme.
A single wheelthrown cooking pot is known.
Handmade vessels. The lower part of the body is straighter than Hereford A2 or A3 vessels. Rolled-out rims often decorated with thumbed bands. One handle is known, decorated with grooved lines and impressions from a pointed tool. Decoration in the upper part of the body consists of horizontal grooves, applied strips, wavy combing and stabbed comb impressions.Feet would have been circular in cross-section (no spouts found).
Two sherds only in early 13th century contexts in Hereford. Both are thicker than average and are clear glazed. The remaining sherds are found in later 13th and 14th century contexts, but form less than 1% of assemblages.Common at Richards Castle.
Vince (forthcoming a) and Barker (1970).
Hard
Well-sorted sandstone and quartz sand, c. 0.3mm.Maximum grain size c. 0.7mm.
Angular quartz and white mica silt up to 0.1mm. Thin-sections Hollow wares. Hereford; M477-8. Roof tile. Hereford; M614.
Unknown Herefordshire.
Wheelthrown vessels. Some decorated with rollerstamping or horizontal incised grooves. Sagging thumbed bases and probable white-slipped rims. Clear or copper-flecked glaze.
One internally glazed base (Berrington Street site 2, Pit 117).
Found first at Hereford in mid- or late 13th century contents and present throughout the late medieval period (i.e. up to the late 14th or early 15th century ?). Forms 1% to 2% of assemblages. This ware has only been found at Hereford and Hampton Wafer.
Vince (forthcoming a).
Hard
Sparse rounded quartz grains.
Angular quartz and white mica silt up to 0.1mm. Thin-sections Hereford; M479
Unknown Herefordshire
(not illustrated)
Wheelthrown vessels decorated with roller-stamping or self-coloured and white strips.
A single clear glazed upright costrel with two lug handles.
Found in Hereford in early 13th to 14th century contexts, forming a maximum of 4% of assemblages. The costrel is the only post-medieval vessel known and is dated to the 17th century.
Similar jug sherds occur at Hampton Wafer, but this fabric could be produced from the local clay simply by removing coarse grit.
Vince (forthcoming a)
Hard
Oxidized, reddish yellow, strong brown or light brown (5YR 6/6, 7.5YR 5/6 and 6/4). Rarely a reduced core (10YR 5/1).
Sparse mudstone fragments up to 2.5 mm across and small rounded iron ore inclusions.
Angular quartz and white mica silt up to 0.1mm. Thin-sections Gloucester; M932. Hereford; 480-483
Unknown. Given the small quantity of sherds known it is not even certain that the source is in Herefordshire.
Wheelthrown with a rolled-out rim. Strap handles, joined to the rim at the lip and joining the girth with two thumb impressions.The only decoration consists of wheelthrown grooves at the shoulder. Clear glaze, often immatured, found all over the exterior or the vessels and found as drips on the inside of the vessel.
Only nine examples from Hereford, two from Gloucester and one from Winchcombe.The earliest association is at Hereford, where one sherd was found with Chester-type ware ands Glos. TF41a (and therefore probably early 11th century at the latest). The other Hereford sherds were found in a later 11th century context (one sherd), pre-12th century but otherwise not dated contexts (2 sherds) and unstratified.The Gloucester sherds were found in 12th and later 11th to 12th century contexts.
Vince (forthcoming a and d).
Hard
Usually oxidized red (2.5YR 5/6) or reduced dark grey (10YR 4/1) with an oxidized exterior.
Angular quartz and white mica silt up to 0.1mm. Thin-sections Hollow wares Hereford; M562-3.Similar fine micaceous fabrics. Gloucester; M310, Grosmont Castle; M217, M258. Llangibby; M223-4. Weobley kiln site; M116-7. White Castle; M241. Ridge tile. Hereford; M675.Similar fine micaceous fabrics Chepstow; M761-5. Louver. Hereford; M618.
One kiln known, at Weobley, H. & W., a likely kiln spacer was found in the River Wye below Victoria Bridge, Hereford. Similar wares are common over much of Herefordshire and Northern Gwent and a single source is possible (the resulting distribution would be little bigger than that of Malvern Chase jugs) but this hypothesis cannot be tested unless more powerful methods of characterisation than petrology are used.
All wheelthrown. These vessels very considerably in size and shape and decoration. Rims are usually rounded or squared off, sometimes with a slight thickening. Bridge spouts and pulled spouts and a single free-standing tubular spout are found, while some vessels are definitely spoutless. Strap handles and rod handles are equally common, strap handles are usually decorated with slashing or stabbing, while rod handles can be plain, stabbed or have a central knife-cut groove. Decoration is often present, although plain jugs are probably more common. Most decoration is applied. Brown firing strips, either of a redder clay or with iron ore inclusions are most common. White slip is usually painted on.Where apparent the patterns are usually very simple, repeating geometric designs, such as horseshoes, although more complex patterns, such as flowers and anthropomorphic jugs are found. Roller-stamping is found but is not common (although a majority of the Weobley jugs are roller-stamped). Sagging thumbed bases are most common but recessed bases are also found. Flat bases are also found, usually with acute base angles.Some jugs have a white slip around the rim, dripping down the interior.Both clear and copper-flecked glaze is found, covering the exterior.
All wheelthrown, with cylindrical bodies, inturned rims and internal clear or copper-flecked glaze. The bases are dished-out after throwing. Dishes. Wheelthrown vessels with simple rounded rims and flat bases, glazed on the inside of the base.
Handmade vessels with internally glazed, thick bases and short walls. Usually knife-trimmed and caked with soot.
One leg from an aquamanile (from Hereford), knife-trimmed.
Globular bodied with flat base, and acute base angle. A wide flaring rounded rim.Three oval-sectioned handles. Other types. One large base with internal glaze and a rectangular foot.
Usually knife-cut crests, stabbed. Some with applied knobs.
Wheelthrown globular finials, fitting into a flange in the ridge tile.
The best stratified examples come from Hereford and Gloucester. At both sites the earliest occurence is during the 13th century. At Hereford the earliest examples are associated with handmade Malvern Chase cooking pots and Worcester jugs (i.e. mid-late 13th century), whilst at Gloucester the earliest examples are associated with Malvern Chase jugs and Glos. TF99 (i.e. late 13th-14th century).At both sites the main period of use is the 14th century, when at Hereford it forms up to 70% of the pottery found and at Gloucester it forms up to 30%.At both sites the ware is in decline in the later 14th to 15th centuries, but may still be in production. A mid-16th century group from Hereford contains one complete cup, probably the only contemporary vessel in this ware and forming less than 1% of the pottery in use.
Vince (forthcoming a)
Hard (tygs, very hard or hard).
Oxidized yellowish red to reddish brown (5YR 5/6 to 5/3).Tygs, reddish brown to black.
There are several sources known, mostly in remote wooded areas, such as the Deerfold Forest on the border of Herefordshire and Shropshire, Bacton in south-west Herefordshire, Queens Wood, Upton Bishop in the south of the county and Haind Park Wood , Dymock across the border in Gloucestershire. Further kilns are known in Powys (Whole House, Talgarth) and Gwent (several kilns, for example St. James House, Monmouth and Trefaldu). A programme of petrological analysis was carried out on these wares but no significant differences were found between the products of different centres. Neither are there diagnostic characteristics in the typology of the wares produced.
Some vessels of the same form as late 16th to 17th century Malvern Chase jars, lid-seated with a wash of glaze around the inside of the rim.
Cylindrical, internally glazed vessels.
With flanged rims and internal glaze.
With 'T' rims and internal glaze.Often with a wide pulled spout.
A rare product of the North Herefordshire kilns.
Cylindrical vessels with 2 or 3 handles, bands of turned grooves and often a foot-ring base.
Copies of the Frechen stoneware form. Lids Chamber Pots Cups. With horizontal loop handles.
Globular bodied, footed vessels with everted rims and handles. Some without trace of soot or feet may be wide-mouthed jars or jugs.
Thick, plain examples.
illustrated by Marshall (1948).
Sub-rectangular forms (Marshall, 1948).
Inlaid tile wasters found at Queens Wood, Upton Bishop.Possibly produced to repair medieval tile floors.
At Hereford and Gloucester the earliest occurence of this ware is in the late 16th to 17th century. Both sites have produced assemblages with Frechen Stoneware and no examples of this ware, so that its beginnings can be tied down archaeologically to the years either side of c. 1600.The cup in Hereford A7b (see above) is the only evidence for any continuity in the industry and is of a form not found in the later industry.It also has a copper-flecked glaze, not found on the later ware. Documentary evidence shows that the Deerfold Forest potters were working c. 1600 but that they were evicted early in the 17th century. Archaeological evidence from Wigmore Abbey suggests that if this is the case they were replaced by potters producing the same fabric, but that this ware was replaced by c. 1710 by Staffordshire coarseware. Evidence from Hereford shows that this ware was the most common in the early to mid 17th century but was replaced by c. 1670 by slip-decorated ware and a new range of coarseware forms in the same fabric.(Whitney-on-Wye and Newent Glasshouse wares). At Gloucester this ware forms only c. one-third of early to mid 17th century groups, despite the proximity of two of the kilns (Upton Bishop and Dymock). Here too, the ware is replaced by c. 1670 by Newent Glasshouse ware.
Vince (1977d, forthcoming a & f); Marshall (1948) Watkins (1924, 1928).
One of the most prolific potteries in the medieval and post-medieval period in the study area is that in the Malvern Chase (Vince 1977).All of the wares produced there contain at least some fragments of angular acid igneous rock, which in this region can only come from the spine of the Malvern Hills.Occasional erratics from the Lake District are found in the fluvio-glacial deposits of the West Midlands, but these are the same size as the quartz sand and rounded.
Analysis of 40 samples of Malvernian ware from various sites in the region showed that these are significant variations in the petrology of the ware and six fabrics are recognised; cooking pot fabric, early tripod pitchers, late tripod pitchers, later medieval wheelthrown ware, late 'pink' fabric and floor tile fabric. In addition to these fabric distinctions there are differences in firing and surface treatment which enable the cooking pot fabric to be split into three groups, corresponding to the 12th, late 12th and 13th, and late 13th to 14th centuries and the later medieval wheelthrown ware to be split into three groups, corresponding to the late 13th to 14th centuries, the 14th to early 16th centuries and the mid- to late 16th century.
These factors help to make this ware one of the most useful chronological indicators in the region.
Clay samples have been taken from a series of localities within the area of Malvern Chase, the documented centre of the potting industry, and compared with the pottery thin- sections.Comparison of the two enables some conclusions to be made about the preparation of clay and the location of clay pits.
The clay samples in general contain a lower quantity of inclusions than the early medieval fabrics but a similar quantity to that of the later medieval and later fabrics. The comparison between some of the unprepared clay samples and some of the late and post-medieval pottery was impressive and shows that much of the later pottery was made from untempered, uncleaned clay. Most of the clay samples and pottery contained fragments of angular Malvernian rock. Scattered angular quartz was also present in the matrix of all the clay samples and pottery but was much rarer than, for example, in the matrix of Herefordshire Wares. White mica was very rare, and was found only in one clay sample but black mica and other ferromagnesian minerals were present in small quantities in several of the clay samples. These would be derived from the breakdown of Malvernian rock.Two types of sandstone fragments are found in clay samples and pottery, small rounded fragments with a silicious matrix and larger angular fragments without visible cement. These often decomposed on firing leaving a partially quartz grain filled void. Rounded quartz was scattered in the clay samples with the exception of samples from the alluvial clay in the Poolbrook valley, which contained a high quantity of rounded quartz and quartz silt.
Only two geological deposits including clay occur in the area of the Malvern Chase; Keuper Marl and alluvial clay alongside the River Severn (and to a lesser extent the small valleys leading into the river).The alluvial clay contains abundant quartz silt and is not similar to any of the pottery fabrics found, although it has been used for brickmaking. Parts of Hanley Castle Church were rebuilt in brick in the late 17th century (a plaque marked 1674 is set into the rebuilt nave). The Keuper Marl in many exposures is dense, blocky and slightly calcareous and could not have been used in this state for potting. Only where this clay has been weathered or re-deposited does it make a good potting clay. The presence of burnt-out roots and other orgicmterial in the pottery fabrics shows that superficial clay deposits have been utilised. Over much of the Chase theKeuper Marl is covered with a capping of gravel. At the foot of the Malvern Hills this gravel is almost totally composed of Malvernian rock, whilst at the edge of the terrace closest to the river Severn the gravel is almost totally composed of rounded quartz sand, with some sandstone fragments.In the area in between a mixture of the two materials is found. The cooking pot fabric contains the least rounded quartz and the tripod pitcher fabrics the most.The later wheelthrown, glazed wares also contain a high proportion of rounded quartz to Malvernian rock.This would suggest that the clay and/or tempering for the early cooking pots was obtained from closer to the Malvern Hills than that of the other fabrics.
Two areas of pottery production are known archaeologically. Both are situated on gravel, midway between the Malvern Hills and the Severn (see Fig. 00).It is likely that both sites would have obtained clay from the sides of valleys cutting through the gravel and exposing the underlying clay to the elements, rather than digging the clay on the sites. Both sites produced later medieval glazed ware, one of late 13th to 14th century date and the other of 16th century date, neither ware was tempered deliberately.
Soft to hard
Early vessels are usually black, late 12th to 13th century vessels are black to grey (10YR 3/1) sometimes with oxidized surfaces of dark reddish grey, reddish brown or light yellowish brown (5YR 4/2, 4/4, or 10YR 6/4).Later vessels are usually reduced light grey or reduced with an oxidized surface.
Large angular fragments of acid igneous rock, up to 4.0mm across, rounded quartz up to 1.4mm and rare rounded sandstones and metamorphic rock fragments. Smaller rounded chert, clay pellets, black mica and horneblende occur.
Sparse opaque iron ore and angular quartz up to 0.1mm.
10, 12-4, 16-30, 41, 45, 138, 172-3, 484-6, 691, 855-6.
These vessels are squat, cylindrical and have everted, thickened rims.A rare varians is completely cylindrical with a cordon just below the rim. They are mainly completely black and the walls are often of uneven thickness with little or no evidence for rotary smoothing.
These vessels are squat, or sometimes very squat, cylindrical with rotary smoothing. The rim forms are more rounded than those of the early vessels and include infolded types. Firing is also different. Light grey vessels are common, some with partially oxidized surfaces.
Large handmade vessels with applied thumbed strips and thick flat-topped rims.One example has a strap handle, and this was probably a universal feature.
A few examples of this form are known, all are in a coarse, poorly finished ware simiar to that of the early handmade cooking pots. Their rim forms are also similar. An example from Pershore may be soot blackened on the inside, but on a vessel which was fired black it is difficult to be certain.
Soft or hard
Dark grey or black with oxidized surfaces (7.5YR 6/2, 10YR 3/2).
Rounded quartz up to 0.7 mm, mainly c. 0.4mm. Sparse acid igneous rock fragments up to 2.0mm and rounded clay pellets. Rare chert and rounded sandstone fragments.
Sparse angular quartz and opaque iron ore up to 0.1mm.
81, 326-7 (?), 347, 487-494, 972.
Tripod Pitchers. Handmade vessels with a globular body and cylindrical or slightly flaring neck. The rim is usually flat-topped and thickened. Rod handles are universal and there maysometimes be two per pot. Tubular spouts. Sagging bases and circular feet. Roller-stamped decoration is the most common and four different designs are known; chevrons, smaller chevrons, small diamonds and small rectangles.At Hereford two vessels were impressed with the same stamp.Roller-stamping occurs over the top half of the body, the top of the rim and the handle.It is sometimes combined with applied strips. Thin clear glaze is present.
Hard but friable
Dark grey core with oxidized brown surfaces (7.5YR 5/4).Refires to red (2.5YR 5/6).
Tripod pitchers. Similar to the early vessels but with rolled-out rims and the lower part of the body is straight- sided.Both pulled and bridge spouts occur.Strap handles are decorated with raised strips and incised with stabbing and slashing. Decoration, on the top half of the body, consists of combing, applied strips and horizontal grooves. The exterior of the vessels is clear glazed. The glaze is often thinly applied and on some vessels can be seen to be brushed or painted on. Jugs. A few thumbed sagging bases are known and it is therefore possible that some 'late tripod pitcher' sherds are actually from jugs. The thumbing consists of individual thumb impressions rather than a frill. The size and shape of these jugs is probably similar to that of the tripod pitchers.
Hard to very hard
Late 13th to 14th century vessels often reduced light grey with oxidized surfaces and clear or copper-flecked glaze. 14th to 15th century vessels usually oxidized throughout (except for the thickest parts of rims or bases) with clear or copper-flecked glaze. Mid-late 16th century and 17th century vessels usually higher fired (oxidized 2.5YR 5/8) with clear glaze 'fried' at the edges.
Sparse rounded quartz, acid igneous rock fragments and sandstones, ill-sorted c. 0.1mm to 0.7mm. Rare large angular acid igneous rock fragments up to 4.0mm. Roof tiles have the same basic fabric but sometimes contain larger and more frequent acid igneous rock fragments. Clay Matrix Sparse angular quartz up to 0.1mm and rounded iron ore fragments up to 0.4mm.
43, 163 (?), 168-171, 205, 216, 220-1, 252-3, 260, 271-2, 279-90, 305-9, 322b, 323-5, 518-523, 696.
184, 186, 243, 251, 259, 291, 617, 619.
The form of these vessels is similar to that of the later handmade vessels, but inturned rims are more common. They are almost always reduced light grey with oxidized surfaces.
This form is always internally glazed and the walls slope outwards. Rims are rounded with a wide groove on the inside (i.e. they are similar to late cooking pot rims but at a different orientation). The bases are dished out.
Possibly slab-built vessels. The 16th century examples are oval in plan with spouts at either end but the medieval examples may be rectangular. Both types have a loop handle, internal glaze and are extensively knife- trimmed. The bases often have traces of gravel. Some medieval examples have feet.
Two distinct forms occur. Small, straight- sided and flat based vessels with squared-off rims, normally internally glazed (copper-flecked) and large straight-sided vessels with infolded rims, sometimes two lugs and a patchy clear internal glaze.
These vessels are like the smaller conical bowls with added rectangular feet and horizontal, oval-sectioned handles. The rims are either squared-off or infolded. Pulled spouts are found.On one example the spout is set to the left of the handle (i.e. it is a right-handed vessel).
These vessels are made in two parts; the top is a small bowl with simple squared-off or infolded rim and the bottom is a pedestal with an acute base angle. The two are luted together, often leaving a cordon or ridge at the join.Round holes are stabbed through the sides and base of the top section and the sides of the bottom section. Two opposed oval-sectioned handles are added and three or more knobs arranged around the rim. The vessels are internally glazed, with either a clear or copper-flecked glaze.
An example from Worcester has pottery rings within the handles and is decorated with applied white slip blobs.
Thrown as hemispherical cups with pedestal bases. The rim is then pinched into six or seven lobes.
These vessels are made in two parts; the top is a small bowl with simple squared-off or infolded rim and the bottom is a pedestal with an acute base angle. The two are luted together, often leaving a cordon or ridge at the join. Round holes are stabbed through the sides and base of the top section and the sides of the bottom section. Two opposed oval-sectioned handles are added and three or more knobs arranged around the rim. The vessels are internally glazed, with either a clear or copper-flecked glaze. An example from Worcester has pottery rings within the handles and is decorated with applied white slip blobs.
Thrown as hemispherical cups with pedestal bases. The rim is then pinched into six or seven lobes. A copper-flecked glaze covers the interior and exterior of the vessel, sometimes over a white slip. A rod handle joins the cup at the rim.
Globular bodied vessels with an acute base angle, flat base and one, two or three oval-sectioned handles. The rim is flaring and often wider than the body. Copper-flecked internal and external glaze.
Small, shallow straight-sided vessels with flat bases and internal copper-flecked glaze.
Large jugs with strap handles, usually with slashed decoration, and a sagging base with a continuous thumbed frill. Simple or slightly thickened, squared-off rims. Decoration is rare. The body is often reduced with oxidized exterior and copper-flecked external glaze.
Tall jugs with strap handles, usually slashed. Acute base angles and external copper-flecked glaze. The handles are usually no bigger than those of the globular jugs. One complete example from Gloucester is known and others are inferred only from base sherds.
Smaller than the globular jugs with thickened squared-off rims, rod or strap handles (often undecorated) and either a recessed sagging base, sometimes thumbed, or a flat undecorated base. Pulled spouts are found but some vessels are unspouted. A copper-flecked 'bib' glaze is usual. A small number of bulbous jugs have white and brown slip decoration. The brown slip contains added iron ore and is squeezed on (giving a triangular section) whilst the white slip is painted on. Patterns include shields with mock heraldry. 16th century bulbous jugs often have an infolded rim, like that of the late large jars. They can be decorated with nicked cordons or wheelthrown grooves and have a glossy clear glaze.
Globular pots with rectangular tripod feet and an everted rim. Horizontal handles on the shoulder are found but some vessels have strap or rod handles. Pulled spouts occur. Glaze is restricted to the interior base and the inside of the rim and is usually copper-flecked. There is a range of sizes within this type and late 15th to 16th century examples are often large with thumbed strips around the neck. Two types of thumbing occur; individual impressions and overlapping, diagonal impressions. The exterior is usually sooted.
Tall vessels with rims and bases like the pipkins and a bung- or spigot hole jug above the base. An example from Worcester has two strap handles.
Ovoid profiled vessels with a flat base and rolled-out rim. They often have a thumbed strip around the neck, usually with intermittent thumb impressions. The rims are infolded and may have a thin clear glaze on the inside. Glaze is used very sparingly on these jars and often occurs as streaks on the inside only. Lids. Straight-sided conical lids with flat tops. Made to fit pipkins, cisterns or large jars.
with knife-cut and stabbed crests. Copper- flecked glaze.
No more than two knobs per tile. mainly copper-flecked glaze, some clear glazed. The glaze on these tiles is often a mere strip along the crest.
Wheelthrown finials with applied spikes, copper- flecked glaze. These fit into a flanged socket in the ridge tile (at least two finials are still to be seen on rooves in Hanley Castle, one on a building in the square next to the church and the other on a cottage next to the quay. Both buildings are timber-framed and probably 16th century).
Made in a sanded mould. Nibbed at one end. Some glazed at one end, others completely unglazed. 15-20mm thick.
Handmade bricks made in a sanded mould. 27-47mm thick.
Hard
Oxidized yellow or reddish yellow (7.5YR 7/4) often with a brown slip.
Sparse visible inclusions. Rare large angular fragments of acid igneous rock.
Sparse angular quartz and some rounded iron ore. All vessels in this fabric can have a brown slip under a clear glaze.
These vessels have a flat base and a carinated body. The upper part being straight-sided and vertical and the lower part conical. Externally thicken rims occur.
Similar to those in the later wheelthrown fabric but without applied strip at the neck. The rim is either simple and rolled-out or can be infolded with an external cordon below the rim.
See Ch. 3.
182-3, 349, 743, 1006-7.
Malvern Chase. The Chase extended from Great Malvern in the north to Birtsmorton and Castlemorton in the south and was administered originally from Hanley Castle. The Chase was divided into three 'Walks', Cliffey and the Link to the north and Bruerne and Southwood Walk in the south. Documentary evidence for the industry normally does not distinguish the different areas but in the 16th century it is clear that the southern walk was the main centre of the industry. By the 16th century it is clear that it is the Manor of Hanley Castle that is the centre of the industry and it underwent a brief name-change to 'Potters Hanley' in the middle of the century. Archaeological evidence for the industry consists of two areas of potting waste; one at Gilberts End, and the other in a field just to the south of the road leading from Hanley Castle to Hanley Swan. The waste from the first site is mainly large globular jugs, of late 13th or 14th century date, whilst that from the second site is of 16th century date.
The earliest context to produce early handmade cooking pots is at St. Johns Lane, Gloucester, where one rim was stratified in the construction trench of the precinct wall of St. Peters Abbey, c. 1107-14. The ware remains rare at Gloucester until the late 12th century but is more common at Stoke Orchard, Gloucestershire. At Hereford it forms c. 10% of early 12th century assemblages rising to c. 20% in the later 12th century (fig.2.52). Early tripod pitchers are found in early 12th century contexts at Hereford, forming 2-3% of assemblages and are slightly more common in late 12th groups there. At Gloucester they are rare until the late 12th century. Other findspots of 12th Century Malvern Chase wares are Breinton and sites in South West Worcestershire, for example Worcester, Droitwich and Pershore (fig.2.57). At these sites, however, although the tripod pitchers are relatively common, the cooking pots are rarely found and instead Worcester vessels occur. It is not clear whether the tripod pitchers have a later starting date than the cooking pots, since sequences in S. W. Worcestershire are not closely datable and at both Hereford and Gloucester one would expect to find more evidence for an early date for the cooking pots than the tripod pitchers because these vessels are more frequent. 'West country vessels' are rare and all examples have been found close to the Chase, for example Kempsey and Pershore. The Pershore vessel is stratified in a 12th century context and this is likely to be the date range of the type. The differential distribution of this type may help to elucidate the function of this form. cp5 Later 12th and especially early to mid-13th century handmade cooking pots have a much wider distribution (fig.2.53) and are more common at Hereford and Gloucester than their 12th century predecessors. They are even found regularly at Chepstow (only one sherd was stratified but over 60 were found. All the rims found were of 13th century type, but including only one wheelthrown example) and Shrewbury, where, again, although never forming a large proportion of the cooking pots used they occur in small quantities on several sites. Here too, mainly early to mid- 13th century rims forms were most common. Late tripod pitchers (and jugs) are found at this time, always associated with or later than Ham Green jugs. Some of the features of these vessels may be borrowed from Ham Green ware, for example bridge spouts and stabbed and slashed strap handles. They have the same rounded rectangular cross-section as the Ham Green handles, rather than the wide 'U' shape of contemporary Minety tripod pitcher handles. Three late tripod pitcher sherds were found at Chepstow but they are not yet recognised on other sites producing late handmade cooking pots. The type was not recognised when the collections of Hereford, Worcester, Hartlebury and Shrewsbury Museums were examined for this study (fig.2.58). There is a definite decline in the distribution and frequency of Malvern Chase wares in the late 13th to 14th centuries, due partly to the decline in the number of cooking pots being used and the presence of several other glazed ware industries (figs.2.54, 2.60). In Herefordshire, wheelthrown cooking pots are found at Bredwardine in the upper Wye valley and on the kiln site at Weobley. (the latter vessels are definitely not Weobley products, although some have been refired and glaze-splashed in the kiln). The Globular jugs however are not found in Hereford at all. At Gloucester both globular jugs and wheelthrown cooking pots are found. Dishes are rare but may be of late 13th or 14th century date. Bulbous jugs probably started production in the 14th century, together with wheelthrown cooking pots or bowls and are found at Hereford and Gloucester but the overall quantity of Malvern Chase wares at Hereford is little different to that in the late 13th to 14th century, since there was a decline in the quantity of cooking pots used (25% to 13%). Slip-decorated bulbous jugs are probably solely 14th century and are found at Broadway, Upton D.M.V., Hereford and Gloucester, where they may predate wheelthrown Minety wares, which start in the late 14th or 15th centuries. The number of late 14th to 15th century groups from the region is very small but at Gloucester there is little difference in the frequency of Malvern Chase wares from the 14th century. The only difference in typology is the presence of simple everted rimmed pipkins, alongside wheelthrown cooking pots or bowl and bulbous jugs (figs.2.55, 2.61). In the 15th century, post-dating the arrival of Tudor Green ware, again there are very few closed groups. At Gloucester it appears that bulbous jugs may have been replaced by Minety vessels but pipkins, skillets, cisterns, and conical bowls (with squared-off rims) are found. Malvern Chase wares form 39% of this assemblage (but include 34 possibly residual jug sherds). Other forms are probably also 15th century, for example lobed cups although no stratified examples are known. The Wyre Piddle Hoard, deposited c.1470, was found in the base of a small Malvern Chase jug or bottle (Archibald, 1970). An early 16th century group from Gloucester is very similar to those of the 15th century, except that all of the pipkin rims had thumbed necks. Copper-flecked glaze was still in use. The proportion of Malvern Chase wares was slightly higher, c. 40%. Chafing dishes have also been found in early 16th century contexts. One other late 15th to early 16th century group containing mainly Malvern Chase coarsewares is at Bristol Greyfriars (c. 1500-1530's). By the mid- 16th century (associated with Cologne and Frechen stoneware) copper-flecked glaze was out of use. Vessels of this date are often fired to a higher temperature (giving a 'fried' glaze appearing yellow and brown). There are two large groups of this date at Gloucester and one at Hereford. In all three the main forms found are large jars, late bulbous jugs and conical bowls with inturned rims. Chafing dishes, small jugs or bottles and oval dripping pans are also found. The proportion of Malvern Chase wares in these groups is very high. They are virtually the only coarseware found alongside Tudor Green ware, Cistercian wares and imported stoneware. Conical bowls and large jars are characteristic of many of the less well stratified groups of Malvern Chase ware. They range from as far north as Birmingham to the South Welsh coast. The South Welsh trade may have started in the late 15th or early 16th century since some vessels are stratified at Chepstow in pre-dissolution contexts including a conical bowl or skillet rim and the base of a cup (fig.2.62). Vessels in the late 'pink' fabric first occur in the very late 16th or early 17th century. A large group from Lower Quay Street, Gloucester appears to be a merchants stock of unused vessels and includes 'pink' fabric bowls and large jars together with late bulbous jugs, conical bowls and large jars in the 'standard' fabric. it is very likely therefore that the 'pink' fabric is contemporary with the latest use of the 'standard' fabric, rather than superseding it. Elsewhere, at Gloucester and at Hereford, the proportion of Malvern Chase wares found in assemblages is much lower than in the late 16th century and the distribution of 'pink' fabric vessels suggests that the market area of Malvern Chase ware had shrunk back to South-West Worcestershire and the neighbouring parts of Herefordshire and Gloucestershire (fig.2.63).
Vince (1977a, 1977b, 1979a, and forthcoming a, d, e, f) and Morris (1980). Vince (1977a) has a full gazetteer and bibliography up to c. 1975.
Soft to hard
Club rimmed Cooking pots black. Everted rimmed cooking pots have black or grey cores with reduced (7.5YR 4/2) or oxidized surfaces (10YR 5/4), jugs reduced light grey with an oxidized brown or reddish yellow interior surface (7.5YR 5/4 or 5YR 6/6). Refires red (2.5YR4/6 to 5/6).
A medium-grained sand, moderate to abundant inclusions of rounded and subangular quartz, rounded brown chert and silicious sandstone with amorphous inclusions, all up to 1. 0mm. The quantity of inclusions varies from type to type. Club rimmed cooking pots often have abundant inclusions whilst everted rimmed cooking pots and some jugs have moderate inclusions and some jugs have sparse to moderate inclusions. Sparce rounded sandstone inclusions, rarely up to 4.0mm across are found in cooking pots more frequently than jugs.
Sparce angular quartz and white mica up to 0.1mm.
Droitwich; M686-7. Gloucester; M195, M328, M980. Hereford; M495-9. Solihull; M630, Worcester; M1-4.
Chepstow; M819, Gloucester; M175. Hereford; M500-1. Shrewsbury; M539. Weoley Castle M624. Worcester; M167.
Gloucester; M185. Worcester; M1084-6, M1089.
Worcester; M1087-8.
Worcester. Distribution evidence points to the Worcester area for both the cooking pot and jug sources and late 12th century documentary evidence indicates potters working in the suburbs and paying rent in pots to the Bishop of Worcester, c.1187 (Hollings, 1950, 32 and 37). The only archaeological evidence is a single jug waster from Broad Street, Worcester which consists of the handles and parts of the bodies of two jugs stuck together with glaze. A single waster could easily have come into the town with packing and does not indicate the location of the kilns.
Cylindrical squat handmade vessels with sagging bases.
Similar form to the club-rimmed vessels but often thinner. Everted rims are always thickened, and are usually flat-topped. Most examples have rotary smoothing.
A similar profile to the handmade examples but sometimes with an internal glaze and roller-stamped decoration.
Wheelthrown vessels with sagging bases with thumbed frills. The rims are either plain flat-topped or have a slight moulding below the rim. Externally thickened rims are found but are not common. Thin strap handles are usual ( rounded rectangular cross-section) and have stabbed decoration. Rod handles are found but are uncommon. bridge spouts are typical and can be stabbed at the body join. Most vessels are roller-stamped and a large number of stamps is known. The most common patterns are chevrons, squares, rectangles and diamonds whilst more complex patterns occur infrequently, for example raised circles, alternating shields or fleur-de-lys. Applied decoration, either simple lines or more complex flowers or figures, is rare but does occur over roller-stamping. White slip is often found around the inside of the rim and the vessels have a thick glossy copper-flecked green glaze.
Wheelthrown, thin-walled vessels with a small flat-topped or lid-seated rim. Decorated externally with roller-stamping and copper-flecked glaze.
slab-built vessels with knife-trimmed exteriors and copper-flecked glaze. Probably, but not definitely, oval in plan. Coated externally with soot.
One wheelthrown example from Hereford with an external copper-flecked glaze and an unglazed flange.
Copper-flecked glaze decorated with tall curving knobs. These knobs are pushed well into the body of the tile, unlike those of Malvern Chase tiles, which are much smaller.
Club rimmed and everted rimmed cooking pots first occur in late 11th to early 12th century contexts at Hereford, Worcester and Droitwich and at both Hereford and Droitwich form small proportions of the assemblages. At Hampton Wafer, club-rimmed cooking pots were the only type found in the earliest phase of occupation and were present in an assemblage sealed by the village bank at Richards Castle. The club-rimmed form probably dissapeared early in the 12th century and is not, for example, found at Gloucester. The proportion of Worcester type cooking pots increased at all sites during the 12th century and at Worcester several large assemblages contained only Worcester-type cooking pots and Malvern Chase early tripod pitchers (fig.2.65). At Hereford, the cooking pots formed c. 12% of early and late 12th century assemblages but declined in frequency early in the 13th century. At Gloucester, the cooking pots are infrequent 12th and early 13th century finds but wheelthrown everted rimmed cooking pots are perhaps slightly more common in the mid-late 13th century, contemporary with the jugs (fig.2.66). The glazed wares are used in this study to define the begining of the mid-13th century (perhaps c. 1220) and consistently occur later than Ham Green 'B' jugs (although probably not much later). Their greatest frequency is found at the same time as the floruit of Ham Green Ware, probably the mid- to late 13th century, although they are still found at both Hereford and Gloucester associated with late 13th to 14th century glazed wares. Morris suggests that the industry continued well into the 14th century but it had clearly ceased to market pottery outside of Worcester by that date (Morris, 1980). Of the glazed wares, only the jugs are common. These are found over much of Herefordshire and Worcestershire as far north as Weoley Castle (now in a suburb of Birmingham). At that site there was only one Worcester jug sherd in a sample of over 200 sherds. Elsewhere on the borders of the distribution the relative frequency of the ware is not known, since it is not known how many of the other wares at the sites are contemporary. Worcester jugs are found in Shrewsbury, the only site in Shropshire to produce them, and, like the contemporary Malvern Chase imports, form a small but regular element in assemblages. To the south, Worcester wares are found at sites in the middle Wye Valley, between Monmouth and Ross-on-wye, where Malvern Chase vessels are rare. Jugs from Hen Gwrt in northern Gwent probably arrived via Monmouth. In the Severn Valley, south of Gloucester there are few findspots, probably because of competition from Ham Green Wares, although four jug sherds and one wheelthrown, everted rimmed cooking pot were found at Chepstow. These form a very small proportion of the contemporary pottery. One jug sherd was stratified (site XI phase 2). Another jug was found at Loughor Castle in the same deposit as a complete Minety late tripod pitcher. To the south-east, Worcester ware (both cooking pots and jugs) is common at Upton D.M.V. (frequency unknown) but is absent from Cirencester and other sites east of the Cotswold scarp. The ridge tiles have a more restricted distribution and are common at Worcester, Droitwich (possibly in the late 12th century) and Pershore. They are found at Gloucester, where they are probably the second type used, after Gloucester TF89 but before the introduction of Malvern Chase and Hereford A7b ridge tiles. By the 15th century there is documentary evidence that Worcester was a major tile-making centre but from this evidence it seems that the ridge tiles, like the pottery, are essentially only of 13th century date. The later industry was probably producing flat unglazed tiles to be used with Malvern Chase ridge tiles.
Barton (1967b), Morris (1980), Vince (1977b, 1979a, forthcoming a, d, e & f).
Hard
Oxidized with a dark green glaze.
Abundant fine rounded quartz and larger fragments of sandstone.
-
Hereford; M521. Worcester; M699.
Unknown.
A flat based vessel with acute base angle and flaring body. Three oval handles. Wheelthrown grooves below the rim. Internal and External glaze.
Cylindrical vessels with oval handle and wheelthrown grooves below the rim. Internal and external glaze.
Found in an early 17th century context at Worcester, Sidbury. One unstratified tyg from Hereford.
Morris (1980), Vince (forthcoming a)
hard
Oxidized red
Rounded and subangular quartz sand and white mica flakes.
-
Not sectioned.
Unknown. Kidderminster area. Sand and clay samples from Kidderminster produced a very similar looking fabric (thin-sections M692-3).
(not illustrated)
Wheelthrown, clear glazed vessels with inturned rims.
Found only at Caldwell Hall, Kidderminster (unstratified?). On analogy with Malvern Chase ware these vessels should be 16th Century.
-