Monument record 112/0/20 - Medieval pottery production area, Potters Lyveden (Area G)

A Medieval pottery production area (site G) identified during excavations at Lyveden deserted Medieval settlement in 1971. The area was situated within a toft which covered one third of an acre. In the southwest corner a Musty type 4a, stone-built pottery kiln was identified. It had been altered and remodelled, this included successive relinings of the oven pit walls and flue floors and remodelling of the pedestal. There was a waster heap situated on each side of the kiln. Features associated with the kiln also included eight stone-lined pits, some containing clean clay, a well and seven clay or stone quarry pits. The site was in production during the mid 13th-early 14th century. A range of cooking pots, bowls and jugs were manufactured.

{1}Boundary banks indicated toft c.120ft x 110ft; toft lay to west of Site D in area known as Site G. In the south-west corner of the toft was a kiln of typical Lyveden type ie 2 parallel flues leading into oven with apsidal rear wall & central pedestal; plough-damage meant that only bottom few inches of kiln survived. Over most of rest of toft ploughing had penetrated even natural cornbrash and there were few surviving features; well; circular base 11ft diameter & surrounded by limestone retaining wall; numerous pits which provided good pottery sequences; finds suggest pottery manufacture in this toft from c.1250 & therefore slightly later than in toft Site D; both tofts were abandoned at same time.

{2} During the 1971 season an area c100ft square was excavated to the west of Area D. Aerial photographs had suggested that there was a further toft here and a proton magnetometer survey had indicated the existence of a kiln in the south-west corner of the toft. About 3/4 of the toft was excavated. No evidence of buildings in the eastern half; there was extensive disturbance and a number of quarry pits were noted. In the western half the earliest period of occupation, early C13, comprised several gullies, a rectangular hollow and at least one quarry pit. In the late C13 and C14 a pottery kiln, associated potbank, stone-lined pits, a well, a circular stone-built feature, post settings and areas of paving were found. The kiln had been remodelled on more than occasion.

<1> Webster L.E.; Cherry J. (Editors), 1972, Medieval Britain in 1971, p.206-07 (checked) (Notes). SNN5249.

<2> Stean J.M.; Bryant G.F., 1975, Excavations At The Deserted Medieval Settlement At Lyveden, Northants., p. 9-17 (Article). SNN100220.

<3> McCarthy, M R, Brooks, C M, 1988, Medieval Pottery in Britain AD 900-1600, p. 288 (Book). SNN76510.

Record last edited

Jun 26 2024 11:45AM