Monument record 4896/1 - Possible Roman Pottery Manufacturing Site

A large amount of Roman pottery was found in the sides of a railway cutting in the 19th century. A large number of pottery wasters in the assemblage indicates that a kiln probably lay nearby.

{1} A large amount of Roman pottery recovered from possible trench revealed in sides of railway cutting; about 200 vessels identified including Samian ware. Of many vessels identified some pottery mis-shapen & discovery of fire-reddened stones & lumps of clay indicate presence of pottery kiln.

{2} Romano-British pottery found in C19th in Dallington during cutting of railway sidings. Possible pottery kiln.

{3} Trench full of rough Romano-British pot sherds; found in making railway siding; possible rubbish pit and possible rude kiln

{4} Pottery to be seen in side of railway cutting for sidings at Dallington Fields ironstone quarry; section showed cutting of trench 18in deep into natural gravel; about 200 individual vessels identifiable but none perfect; some fragments appear to have failed to fire & others mis-shapen; also found were bones & small iron implement & lumps of uncharacteristic yellow clay; fragment of highly glazed Samian ware; another vessel base has illegible maker's inscription; fragment of one vessel also has lid; another decorated piece matches Roman vessel found at Lincoln; handle of same fabric also found; many of vessel bases found are pierced with 1-5 holes; some of coarser vessels over 1ft diameter & some no more than 1in; Dryden suggested site was rubbish tip possibly associated with pottery manufacture probably using clamp kilns & possibly late C4th-early C5th date.

{7} In 1861 trench of rude potsherds including Samian ware was found during cutting of railway siding; possible site of rubbish pit;

{9} Possible Romano-British pottery kiln; located in back of railway cutting near ironstone excavations in Dallington Fields. Trench full of Romano-British pot sherds; possible rubbish pit; fragments of nearly 200 vessels including wasters; 1 fragment of Samian; some vessels over 1ft diameter & others very small; other vessels with pierced bases; most of pottery comprises coarseware; probably rubbish pit associated with kiln site;

{12} In 1861 trench full of rough Romano-British potsherds was found during construction of railway siding at Dallington; possible rubbish pit;

{13} Romano-British finds made by S.Sharp during the cutting of a railway siding at Dallington in 1861-2; a large quantity of pottery & bone was recovered as well as an iron object; yellow clay was observed.

{15} The sidings extend from SP 747611 to SP 743626.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1985, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.241 (checked) (Series). SNN77383.

<2> Shaw M.; Williams J., 1971-1981, Northampton Development Corporation SMR Record Cards, R8 (checked) (Index). SNN133.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP76SE21 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<4> Sharp S., 1862, Notes Upon Some Roman Remains Recently Discovered at Dallington, p.219-22 (checked) (Series). SNN2308.

<5> Sharp S.S., 1875, Historical Notes of Dallington with an Account of Its Church, p.125+215 (unchecked) (Series). SNN56673.

<6> The Society of Antiquaries London, 1871, Archaeologia (43.1), p.9+118 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN59399.

<7> Ryland, W, Adkins, D, and Serjeantson, R M, 1902, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.217 (checked) (Series). SNN100368.

<8> 1862, The Northampton Herald, (unchecked) (Article). SNN56680.

<9> Northampton Museum Topographical Index, 1960 (checked) (Index). SNN1470.

<10> 1881/1882, Associated Architectural Societies Reports, p.245 (unchecked) (Series). SNN56663.

<11> George T.J., 1904, An Archaeological Survey of Northamptonshire, p.13 (unchecked) (Index). SNN10170.

<12> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP76SW19 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<13> 1993, SMR REPORT FORM, (checked) (Note). SNN48752.

<14> Northampton Museum Records, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN126.

<15> Seaman, BH, 1969, Field investigators comments, F1 BHS 18-MAR-1969 (Notes). SNN111907.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2025 7:28PM