Medieval Pottery from Church Close,

Andover, Hampshire
Ben Jervis Archaeological Report 30
By Ben Jervis MA PIFA.

INTRODUCTION
This report summarises 551 sherds of medieval pottery from medieval features excavated by Test
Valley Archaeological Trust at Newbury Street, Andover. The bulk of the material is of 12 th-14th
century date (table 1). Sherds are generally fairly fragmented and there are few joining sherds.

Max
Ware Name SC SW VC ASW
Chalk Tempered Ware 3 28 3 9
Coarse Flint Tempered Ware 3 25 3 8
Early Medieval Fine Sandy Ware 1 7 1 7
Flint and Sand Tempered Ware 3 10 3 3
Wessex Coarseware 16 178 14 11
Kennet Valley A 22 176 22 8
Kennet Valley B 210 3359 181 16
Kennet Valley C 73 959 62 13
Laverstock-type Ware 167 1490 147 9
Iron Rich Sandy Ware 6 60 6 10
Medieval sandy ware with argillaceous inclusions 1 18 1 18
Medieval Sandy Ware 3 52 2 17
Wessex Redware 8 84 5 11
Transitional Sandy Ware 27 233 18 9
Tudor Green 1 7 1 7
Border Ware 1 4 1 4
Verwood 1 10 1 10
Post Medieval Redware 2 15 2 8
Westerwald Stoneware 1 1 1 1
Unid. 2 14 2 7
Total 551 6730 476 12
Table 1: Quantification of the Assemblage by Ware Type.

The sherds were analysed by the author under a x10 binocular microscope. Fabrics were correlated
to the Hampshire Pottery Type Series, with new types being added as they were identified. Elements
of fabric, form and decoration were recorded and quantified by sherd count, sherd weight,
maximum vessel count. Rim diameter and rim percent measurements were taken. The pottery will
be discussed by ware type before the pottery from each context is summarised.

THE POTTERY
Anglo-Saxon Pottery

There are 6 small sherds of Anglo Saxon potter, 3 of Chalk Tempered Ware and 3 of Flint Tempered
Ware.

Chalk Tempered Ware

Fabric MQc4 is unevenly fired, with a sandy matrix. There are sparse, medium sized, sub-rounded quartz
inclusions and sparse, rounded chalk fragments of similar size.

Flint Tempered Ware

There are 3 undiagnostic sherds of Coarse Flint Tempered ware. Like Chalk Tempered Ware this is a
common Anglo-Saxon ware in the Test Valley and the Andover area (see BJAR 29).

Early Medieval Pottery

There is a small quantity of early medieval pottery. The majority of sherds are quite fragmented.
Three types are present, with Kennet Valley A Ware (Vince et al 1997) and Flint and Sand Tempered
Ware being seen as related.

Early Medieval Fine Sandy Ware

There is a single small sherd of a fine sandy ware, probably of early medieval date. The sherd is a
simple, inturned rim form, from a bowl. The fabric is as follows:

Fabric FQ2 is buff/grey throughout. The only inclusions are moderately abundant fine quartz grains.

Wessex Coarseware

There are 16 sherds of Wessex Coarseware, representing a maximum of 14 vessels. This is a coarse
sandy ware, common in west and mid Hampshire, which dates to the 12th-14th centuries. There is a
single rod handle, probably from a jug. Four sherds have a partial, exterior glaze. Most are clear,
although one is dark green in colour. Two fabrics are present:

Fabric MQ1 varies is colour from black to orange. Vessels are generally handmade. There are abundant sub-
angular/sub-rounded, medium sized quartz inclusions which are densely packed. This is the most abundant
ware in this group.

Fabric MQ2 is grey-buff throughout, sometimes with orange surfaces. There are abundant sub-angular/sub-
rounded, medium sized quartz, which are less densely packed than fabric MQ1.

Kennet Valley A/Flint and Sand Tempered Ware

Kennet Valley A Ware is a term used to define the Flint and Sand Tempered Wares dating to the 11th-
12th centuries found in the Newbury area (Vince et al 1997). These are characterised by a harder
fabric and harsher flint inclusions than the Flint and Sand Tempered Wares found in the southern
part of the Test Valley. Both can however be considered part of the same tradition, the difference
probably being a product of the available resources. There are 22 sherds of Kennet Valley A Ware,
one of which is from a bowl. It is a inturned, hammerhead rim form, typical of bowls in Kennet Valley
A and B Wares. The fabric of these sherds is as follows:

Fabric Ffe1 is unevenly fired with abundant, angular white flint and occasional rounded black iron ore/iron rich
clay pellets.

There is a single, undiagnostic sherd of Flint and Sand Tempered Ware:

Medieval Pottery

There are only a small range of medieval products present, all are probably locally produced, either
being products of the Kennet Valley area, or being typical of pottery found in west Hampshire/east
Wiltshire.

Kennet Valley B Ware

There are 210 sherds of Kennet Valley B Ware (Vince et al 1997), representing a maximum of 181
vessels. This is a chalk and flint tempered ware, dating to the 13th-14th centuries (see Vince et al
1997). Four vessels were identified as bowls and 24 as jars. Three of the bowls have slightly
thickened, inturned rims and the remaining vessel has a clubbed rim. There is more variety in the jar
rims. The most common (5 examples) are everted hammerhead forms, but there are also examples
of simple and thickened everted forms. Both flat and slightly sagging bases are present. Fourteen
sherds (7 vessels) have combed decoration and 2 (1 sherd) have thumb impressions, but the
majority are undecorated and all are unglazed, as is typical of this type. Two fabrics are present:

Fabric MQcf2 is reduced (grey/black in colour). There are common, sub-angular quartz grains with common
angular flint fragments. Evidence of occasional chalk fragments.

MQcf8 has orange, oxidised surfaces, with a light grey core. There are common, sub-rounded medium sized
quartz with common-abundant, fine-medium sized chalk fragments and occasional, larger, angular flint.

Kennet Valley C Ware

There are 73 sherds (max 62 vessels) if this quartz tempered ware (Vince et al 1997), dated to the
11th-13th centuries. Three jars and 8 jugs were identified. All of the rim forms present are simple, or
slightly thickened, everted forms. There are several jug bases present, they are typically flat, but
both obtuse and with an acute basal angles are present. Both occur with thumb impressions. Sherds
typically have a partial exterior clear or green glaze. One jug and another sherd have combed
decoration and four sherds have the painted white slip typical of these wares (see Vince et al 1997).

Laverstock-type Ware

There are 167 sherds of Laverstock-type Ware, representing a maximum of 147 vessels. There is a
single example of a bowl and 85 jugs were identified. Laverstock-type Ware is a fine whiteware
produced at Laverstock, near Salisbury (Musty et al 1969). The bowl has a flanged rim and the jugs
all have simple or slightly thickened rim forms. There are 2 thumbed bases and one example of a
tripod vessel. There are fragments of 3 strap handles. The vessels are typically glazed and a range of
decorative forms including combing, applied pellets, underglaze slipped lines and thumb
impressions. It should be noted that the decoration is generally less elaborate than on the vessels
recovered from the excavations at Newbury Street.

Iron Rich Sandy Ware

There are 6 sherds of Iron Rich Sandy Ware. One is a slashed strap handle from a jug, the other
sherds are undiagnostic, but all have partial, clear, exterior glaze.
Medieval Sandy Ware with Argillaceous Inclusions

There is a single sherd of this ware, which is consistent, but minor component of ceramic
assemblages in west Hampshire. It is of unidentified form, but has a bright green interior glaze.

Medieval Sandy Ware

There are 3 sherds (2 vessels) of an indistinctive medieval sandy ware, all are undiagnostic in regard
to form, although 1 has a clear, exterior glaze. The fabric is as follows:

Fabric FEQ13 has a fairly fine pinkish matrix with sparse, fine-medium sized iron stained quartz and occasional
iron rich clay pellets.

Late Medieval Pottery

There are a small number of later medieval sherds, all likely to be intrusive in earlier features. Two
types are present.

Wessex Redware

There are 8 sherds (max 5 vessels) of Wessex Redware, a well fired sandy ware typical of late 14 th-
15th century contexts in west and south Hampshire. Two sherds are from jugs, the others are
undiagnostic in regard to form. The jug sherds have exterior, partial, green glazes. One of them is
combed. A single fabric is present:

Fabric MQ4 is a wheelthrown sandy ware with oxidised surfaces and reduced core. There are common medium
sized, sub-rounded quartz grains. Occasional fragments of flint or chalk are present, which are probably detrital
in the sand temper.

Transitional Sandy Ware

There are 27 sherds (max 18 vessels) of Transitional Sandy Ware, a well fired, wheelthrown, fine
sandy ware, typical of later medieval and early post medieval deposits across Hampshire. Eleven of
the sherds are from a total of 3 jugs, all are flat, thumbed bases with an obtuse basal angle, with an
exterior, partial, clear glaze. Few of the undiagnostic sherds are glazed, which is typical of this plain,
utilitarian ware. A single fabric is present, a type common in the Test Valley:

Fabric MQ3 is an oxidised sandy ware with sparse, medium sized quartz.

Post Medieval Pottery

There is good assemblage of post medieval pottery from the site, which is deserving of further
analysis. The only post medieval pottery quantified in this project was intrusive in medieval features.
There are single sherds of Tudor Green and Border Ware, both Surrey types common in north
Hampshire and south Berkshire (see Vince et al 1997). There are also single sherds of Verwood-type
Ware and Westerwald Stoneware, as well as 2 sherds of Post Medieval Redware.

Summary

The pottery is all of types known in north and west Hampshire and similar vessels were encountered
in the more complete assemblage excavated at Newbury Street. It is noticeable that there are fewer
elaborately decorated jugs at this site, which may point to differences in ceramic consumption,
however the composition of the assemblage in terms of wares is remarkably similar, with Kennet
Valley types dominating, followed by Laverstock-type Ware and finally minority west Hampshire
types.

POTTERY BY CONTEXT
Context 9

Contained 11 small sherds of Kennet Valley A Ware and 5 moderately sized sherds of Kennet Valley B
Ware.

Context 11

Contained 3 small sherds of Coarse Flint Tempered Ware and 5 moderately sized sherds of Kennet
Valley A Ware.

Context 38

Contained 3 small sherds of Wessex Redware and a small sherd of Border Ware.

Context 96

Contained 2 joining sherds of Laverstock-type Ware.

Context 128

Contained 3 small sherds of Kennet Valley B Ware and a small sherd of Iron Rich Sandy Ware.

Context 130

Contained a moderately sized sherd of Kennet Valley B Ware.

Context 132

Contained single small sherds of Kennet Valley A Ware and Kennet Valley B Ware, with 2 small
joining sherds of Kennet Valley C Ware and a small sherd of Iron Rich Sandy Ware. Two small sherds
of Post Medieval Redware may be intrusive.

Context 152

Contained 4 small sherds of Kennet Valley A Ware.

Context 189

Contained 3 small sherds of Kennet Valley B Ware.

Context 226

Contained 9 moderately sized sherds of Kennet Valley B Ware, several of which join.

Context 243
Contained 58 generally small sherds. These consist of a small sherd of Early Medieval Fine Sandy
Ware, 2 moderately sized sherds of Wessex Coarseware, 10 small sherds of Kennet Valley B Ware,
18 small sherds of Kennet Valley C Ware, 15 small sherds of Laverstock-type Ware (some of which
join) and a small sherd of Iron Rich Sandy Ware. Later material consists of 9 small sherds of
Transitional Sandy Ware, a small sherd of Tudor Green and a small sherd of Westerwald Stoneware.

Context 245

Contained 7 moderately sized sherds of Wessex Coarseware, 5 small sherds of Kennet Valley B Ware,
70 small sherds of Laverstock-type Ware (some of which join) and 2 large, joining sherds of Medieval
Sandy Ware.

Context 259

Contained 3 small sherds of Flint and Sand Tempered Ware, 16 small sherds of Kennet Valley B
Ware, a moderately sized sherd of Laverstock-type Ware and 11 small sherds of Transitional Sandy
Ware, many of which join.

Context 266

Contained a large sherd of Laverstock-type Ware.

Context 268

Contained a small sherd of Kennet Valley B Ware and a small sherd of Kennet Valley C Ware.

Context 274

Contained 3 small sherds of Chalk Tempered Ware, a small sherd of Wessex Coarseware, a small
sherd of Kennet Valley C Ware, 2 moderately sized sherds of Laverstock-type Ware, a moderately
sized sherd of Wessex Redware and a small sherd of Transitional Sandy Ware.

Context 279

Contained a small sherd of Wessex Coarseware, 3 moderately sized sherds of Kennet Valley B Ware,
2 small, joining sherds of Kennet Valley C Ware, a small sherd of Laverstock-type Ware and a small
sherd of Medieval Sandy Ware.

Context 283

Contained 2 small sherds of Kennet Valley B Ware, a moderately sized sherd of Kennet Valley C
Ware, 4 moderately sized sherds of Laverstock-type Ware and a small sherd of Verwood-type Ware,
which is probably intrusive. The deposit probably dates from the 13th-14th century.

Context 286

Contained 2 small, joining sherds of Kennet Valley C Ware, 2 moderately sized, joining sherds of
Laverstock-type Ware and a small sherd of Wessex Redware.

Context 287
Contained 3 small, joining, sherds of Wessex Coarseware, 16 small sherds of Kennet Valley B Ware, 7
small sherds of Kennet Valley C Ware, 29 small sherds of Laverstock-type Ware, 2 small sherds of
Iron Rich Sandy Ware, with 3 moderately sized sherds of Wessex Redware (2 of which join) and 3
moderately sized sherds of Transitional Sandy Ware.

Context 312

Contained 17 small sherds of Kennet Valley B Ware, many of which join, and 3 small sherds of
Kennet Valley C Ware. The deposit probably dates to the 13th century.

Context 315

Contained a small sherd of Kennet Valley B Ware and 3 large sherds of Laverstock-type Ware. The
deposit probably dates to the 13th-14th centuries.

Context 352

Contained a small (possibly residual) sherd of Kennet Valley A Ware, 81 large sherds of Kennet Valley
B Ware (several of which join), 16 moderately sized sherds of Kennet Valley C Ware (some of which
join) and 20 small sherds of Laverstock-type Ware, some of which join. This deposit probably dates
to the 13th century.

Context 354

Contained 6 large sherds of Kennet Valley B Ware, a large sherd of Kennet Valley C Ware, 7 small
sherds of Laverstock-type Ware (2 of which join) and a large sherd of Iron Rich Sandy Ware. The
deposit probably dates to the 13th century.

Context 355

Contained 3 large sherds of Kennet Valley B Ware and a small sherd of Laverstock-type Ware. The
deposit probably dates to the 13th-14th centuries.

Context 357

Contained 15 large sherds of Kennet Valley B Ware, 19 large sherds of Kennet Valley C Ware (some
of which join), 3 small, joining sherds of Laverstock-type Ware and 2 small, joining sherds of
Transitional Sandy Ware. The deposit probably dates to the 13th century.

Context 372

Contained a small sherd of Kennet Valley B Ware and a small sherd of Transitional Sandy Ware.

Context 375

Contained a small sherd of Laverstock-type Ware.

Context 389

Contained 2 moderately sized sherds of Wessex Coarseware, 2 small sherds of Kennet Valley B Ware,
5 moderately sized sherds of Laverstock-type Ware and a moderately sized sherds of Medieval
Sandy Ware with Argillaceous Inclusions. The deposit probably dates to the 13th-14th century.
Context 394

Contained 9 moderately sized sherds of Kennet Valley B Ware, 2 of which join.

Summary

There are very few closely dated groups, and even these are generally fragmented. The material is
typically fragmented, both in terms of sherd size and the small number of joins between sherds. The
majority of the material is likely to be redeposited, rather than representing secondary deposits in
pits.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Musty, J., Algar, D. And Ewence, P., 1969 ‘The Medieval Pottery Kilns at Laverstock, near Salisbury,
Wiltshire, Archaeologia 52, 83-150.

Vince, A, Lobb, S, Richards, J and Mepham, L. 1997, Excavations in Newbury, Berkshire 1979-1990,
Wessex Archaeology Report 13.