Post-Roman Pottery from Love Lane,

Romsey, Hampshire
Ben Jervis Archaeological Report 12
By Ben Jervis MA PIFA

INTRODUCTION
This report summaries the pottery recovered during excavations carried out in 1989 by Test Valley
Archaeological Trust at the Love Lane Car Park site, Romsey. The site archive consists only of context
sheets and a bulk finds register, therefore it is not possible to discuss the pottery by stratigraphic
phase. Instead, the assemblage will be described in broad terms, before the pottery from each
feature is summarised. These findings will then be placed into context. 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.

THE POTTERY
The assemblage is relatively small, consisting of only 198 sherds, weighing 1.5kg (table 1). All are of
medieval or post-medieval date. The earliest pottery is a small sherd of mid-Saxon Organic
Tempered Ware, similar to types present in the iron working layer at Narrow Lane. The sherd
probably dates to the 7th-8th century. There are 10 sherds of coarse flint tempered ware, similar to
9th-10th century types in Southampton, a relatively common Anglo-Saxon type in assemblages from
Romsey. There are also 5 sherds of chalk tempered ware, potentially of Anglo-Saxon date and 2
small sherds of a crystalline tempered ware similar to sherds from Winchester, an east Hampshire
source is possible for this ware. A single sherd of Winchester-type ware is also present. A number of
Flint and Sand Tempered sherds are present. These are generally of Saxo-Norman date, however a
sherd of Coarse Flint and Sand Tempered Ware may date slightly earlier on the basis of parallels
from Hamwic (mixed-grit tempered wares), whilst 2 sherds of wheelthrown Fine Sandy Ware, the
group to which Michelmersh-type wares belong, may also be date to the latter part of the Anglo-
Saxon period.

As at most medieval sites in Romsey the most common ware is Wessex Coarseware, which accounts
for 42% of the sherds recovered. Two sherds of FQfeq1, a wheelthrown sandy ware with iron stained
quartz inclusions, may also be contemporary with this ware. A small quantity of 13th-14th century
glazed sandy wares are present, the most abundant being Laverstock-type wares (12 sherds) with
sherds of South Hampshire Redware, Southampton-type Sandy Ware and Local Whiteware also
being present. There are sherds of 5 wares of unknown medieval date, described below:

FQ4 is a very fine, wheelthrown, ware which is oxidised throughout. The only visible inclusions are sparse, fine
sized, quartz inclusions. Two sherds are present in the assemblage.

FQFfe1 Only 1 very small sherd is present.

MQargF1 has orange-buff surfaces with a grey core. Inclusions consist of moderately abundant, medium sized,
sub-rounded quartz grains, with occasional sub-rounded iron rich clay pellets and sub-angular patinated flint.
This may be a late medieval (14th century) type. Only 1 sherd is present.

MQfe3 has oxidised surfaces and reduced core. There are abundant medium sized quartz grains, with common
black iron ore. Two sherds are present in the assemblage.

MQfe6 has oxidised surfaces and a grey core. Inclusions consist of common, medium sized, sub-rounded quartz
grains and larger, sub-rounded pieces of black iron ore. This may be a Michelmersh type. Only 1 sherd is
present in the assemblage.

Later medieval (14th-15th century) types are also present in small quantities. These consist of 3
sherds of FEQ3, a sandy ware with iron stained quartz inclusions, FQarg2, a fine, well fired sandy
ware and MQ3 and MQ4, which are common in assemblages of this date in Romsey. A single sherd
of Late Medieval Organic Tempered Ware, also identified at the Hundred amongst other excavations
in Romsey, is present, along with 13 sherds of other Late Medieval Sandy Wares. Post medieval
types are not common, consisting of 2 sherds of Border Ware, a sherd of Tudor Green and 10 sherds
of Verwood.

Ware SC %geSC SW %geSW

Mid Saxon Organic Tempered 1 1% 17 1%
Flint tempered ware 10 5% 43 3%
Flint tempered with coarse sand 1 1% 8 1%
Flint and sand tempered ware (Newbury type) 4 2% 14 1%
Flint and sand tempered ware 9 5% 56 4%
Flint tempered with coarse sand and chalk 1 1% 12 1%
Chalk tempered ware 5 3% 30 2%
Crystalline tempered 2 1% 7 0%
Winchester-type Ware 1 1% 5 0%
Fine sandy ware 1 1% 4 0%
FQ2 1 1% 1 0%
Wessex Coarseware 84 42% 574 40%
FQfeq1 2 1% 11 1%
Laverstock-type Ware 12 6% 51 4%
South Hampshire Redware 7 4% 52 4%
Southampton Sandy Ware 2 1% 25 2%
Local Whiteware 1 1% 4 0%
FQ4 2 1% 24 2%
FQFfe1 1 1% 2 0%
MQargf1 1 1% 5 0%
MQfe3 2 1% 19 1%
MQfe6 1 1% 8 1%
FEQ3 3 2% 49 3%
FQarg2 2 1% 15 1%
MQ3 1 1% 3 0%
MQ4 14 7% 209 14%
Late medieval organic tempered sandy ware 1 1% 5 0%
Late medieval sandy ware 11 6% 88 6%
Late medieval(?) sandy ware 2 1% 24 2%
Border Ware 2 1% 13 1%
Tudor Green 1 1% 1 0%
Verwood 10 5% 72 5%
Total 198 1451
 Table 1: Composition of the Ceramic Assemblage from Love Lane

Although a wide date range from the mid-Anglo Saxon period to the 17th century and possibly later
is represented in the assemblage, the bulk of the pottery is of 12th-14th century date. The types
present are well known from excavations elsewhere in Romsey.

POTTERY BY FEATURE
We can proceed to discuss the pottery present by feature:

Layer 2

Layer 2 is garden soil. The layer contained most of the pottery from the site, 122 sherds, although
the sherds are generally small (ASW: 8g) (table 2). As is to be expected from such a layer, a wide
range of types and date ranges are represented. The earliest type present is a relatively large (17g)
sherd of mid-Saxon Organic Tempered Ware. Sherds of other Saxon and Saxo-Norman types are
relatively abundant, but sherds are generally very small, probably due to the reworked nature of the
deposit. A similarly wide range of 13th-14th century types are present, and sherds are similarly
fragmented. The late medieval and early post medieval types are also very fragmented. The
presence of Verwood, but the absence of later industrial types, suggests that the gardens ceased to
be cultivated in the 17th century, however the wide range of earlier wares makes it impossible to
determine when the layer started to be formed, other than saying that the gardens appear to have
been of some antiquity.

Context: 2
Ware SC SW ASW
Mid Saxon Organic Tempered 1 17 17
Flint tempered ware 4 28 7
Flint and sand tempered ware (Newbury type) 3 12 4
Flint and sand tempered ware 1 3 3
Flint tempered with coarse sand and chalk 1 12 12
Crystalline tempered 2 7 4
Winchester-type Ware 1 5 5
Wessex Coarseware 51 425 8
FQfeq1 2 11 6
Laverstock-type Ware 8 40 5
South Hampshire Redware 2 13 7
Local Whiteware 1 4 4
FQ4 2 24 12
FQFfe1 1 2 2
FEQ3 2 45 23
FQarg2 2 15 8
MQ3 1 3 3
MQ4 12 144 12
Late medieval organic tempered sandy ware 1 5 5
Late medieval sandy ware 10 70 7
Late medieval(?) sandy ware 2 24 12
Border Ware 2 13 7
Tudor Green 1 1 1
Verwood 9 69 8
Total 122 992 8
Table 2: The Pottery from Layer 2
Pit 3

Has a single fill, context (4), which contained only 4 small sherds of pottery (table 3). These are all of
early medieval date, consisting of 3 sherds of Chalk Tempered Ware and a sherd of Wessex
Coarseware. On this basis a spot date of the 11th-12th centuries can be suggested. It is possible that
some of the earlier material present in the garden soils is residual from this feature.

Context: 4
Ware SC SW ASW
Chalk tempered ware 3 22 7
Wessex Coarseware 1 9 9
Total 4 31 8
Table 3: The Pottery from Pit 3

Context 6

Context 6 is post-packing in an undefined posthole. The only sherd present is a small fragment of
Laverstock-type Ware, which may be residual.

Linear Feature 11

This feature had a single fill (12). Four small sherds, 3 of Flint Tempered Ware and 1 of Wessex
Coarseware, are present (table 4). Whilst these may be residual, a broad spot date of ‘early
medieval’ is appropriate, perhaps 9th-12th century.

Context: 12
Ware SC SW ASW
Flint tempered ware 3 10 3
Wessex Coarseware 1 1 1
Total 4 11 3
Table 4: The Pottery from Linear Feature 11

Pit 13

All of the pottery from fill (25). All of the 3 sherds present are small (ASW: 4g) (table 5). These
consist of one each of Flint and Sand Tempered Ware, Wessex Coarseware and Laverstock-type
Ware. A 13th century date can be suggested, although the pottery may be residual.

Context: 25
Ware SC SW ASW
Flint tempered with coarse sand 1 8 8
Wessex Coarseware 1 3 3
Laverstock-type Ware 1 2 2
Total 3 13 4
Table 5: The Pottery from Pit 13

Posthole 24
This feature has a single fill (28). This contained 3 sherds, 2 of Wessex Coarseware and 1 of
Laverstock-type Ware (table 6). This suggests a 13th century date for the deposit, although again the
small sherd size means that the pottery may be residual.

Context: 28
Ware SC SW ASW
Wessex Coarseware 2 14 7
Laverstock-type Ware 1 2 2
Total 3 16 5
Table 6: The Pottery from Posthole 24

Bedding Trench 35

This feature contained 4 small sherds of Wessex Coarseware. These suggest a 12th-14th century date,
but may be residual.

Posthole 38

The fill (37) contained a single sherd of Verwood-type, suggestive of a post medieval date, however
this may be intrusive.

Trench 39

The fill (40) contained 8, generally small, sherds (table 7). These consist of 4 sherds of Wessex
Coarseware, 2 sherds of Laverstock-type Ware and 2 larger sherds of South Hampshire Redware. The
group can be dated to the 13th-14th centuries. The presence of larger sherds and the close date range
suggests that this may be an accurate date for the feature.

Context: 40
Ware SC SW ASW
Wessex Coarseware 4 16 4
South Hampshire Redware 2 15 8
Southampton Sandy Ware 2 25 13
Total 8 56 7
Table 7: The Pottery from Trench 39

Trench 41

The fill (42) contained 10 sherds of mixed date (table 8). The earliest are 3 small sherds of Flint
Tempered Ware and a small sherd of Chalk Tempered Ware. Sherds of Saxo-Norman Flint and Sand
Tempered Ware and FQ2 are also present, along with a single sherd of Wessex Coarseware. Sherds
of the undated MQargf1 and Mqfe6 are also present, with a single larger sherd of Late Medieval
Sandy Ware. If this is determined as the best dating evidence, with the earlier types being residual, a
14th-15th century date can be suggested for the feature. If this is intrusive, then the feature may be
of 11th-13th century date.
 Context: 42
Ware SC SW ASW
Flint tempered ware 3 5 2
Flint and sand tempered ware 1 8 8
Chalk tempered ware 1 2 2
FQ2 1 1 1
Wessex Coarseware 1 3 3
Mqargf1 1 5 5
Mqfe6 1 8 8
Late medieval sandy ware 1 18 18
Total 10 50 5
Table 8: The Pottery from Trench 41

Feature 47

This shallow feature had a single fill (48). It contained 12 small sherds, principally of Wessex
Coarseware and Flint and Sand-Tempered Ware, typical of 11th-13th century deposits (table 9). Two
sherds of South Hampshire Redware may place the filling of the feature at the later end of this
range.

Context: 48
Ware SC SW ASW
Flint and sand tempered ware (Newbury type) 1 2 2
Flint and sand tempered ware 4 33 8
Wessex Coarseware 5 14 3
South Hampshire Redware 2 16 8
Total 12 65 5
Table 9: The Pottery from Feature 47.

Feature 59

The fill (50) contained 15, generally small, sherds (table 10). These are principally of Wessex
Coarseware. Earlier types are represented by Chalk Tempered Ware and Flint and Sand Tempered
Ware. Sherds of Laverstock-type Ware and South Hampshire Redware are also present along with 2
sherds of the undated MQfe3 and a sherd of FEQ3, believed to be of 14th century date. The earliest
pottery in the feature can be considered residual, and a date of the 13th-14th century is most likely
for this fill.

Context: 50
Ware SC SW ASW
Flint and sand tempered ware 2 9 5
Chalk tempered ware 1 6 6
Wessex Coarseware 7 42 6
Laverstock-type Ware 1 4 4
South Hampshire Redware 1 8 8
MQfe3 2 19 10
FEQ3 1 4 4
Total 15 92 6
Table 10: The Pottery from Feature 59
Context 51

Is of unknown association. It contained 2 large sherds of MQ4, which suggests a 14 th-15th century
date.

Posthole 54

Has a single fill (53) which contained a sherd of Fine Sandy Ware and a sherd of Wessex Coarseware.
An 11th-12th century date could be suggested, however the sherds may be residual as the excavator
suggests that the posthole is post medieval.

Feature 55

The fill (56) contained 4 sherds of Wessex Coarseware and a single sherd of Fine Sandy Ware. An
11th-12th century date may be appropriate, however the sherds may be residual.

Feature 60

The fill (59) contained 2 small sherds of Wessex Coarseware. These may be residual, given that the
excavator suggests a post medieval date for the feature.

CONCLUSIONS
Although a wide date range is present in the ceramic assemblage, the small sherds from features
suggest a relatively tight date range for occupation activity on the site. Whilst sherds are small and
residuality may be an issue, the lack of intrusive later material suggests that most features date toe
12th-13th centuries, with a small number dating to the 14th century. The garden soil therefore is likely
to be late medieval and post medieval in date, and most of the sherds of this date were recovered
from this layer. Earlier types in the layer may be residual from the underlying features.

This small assemblage has added little to our understanding of pottery from Romsey. Most of the
types present are known in larger quantities from elsewhere in the town and the assemblage is fairly
typical in terms of the proportions of types present. The presence of undisturbed but fragmented
assemblages is interesting however and the pottery could be of great potential in interpreting the
site stratigraphy.