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Reference to wares of this period may be made to a
paper by Mr. Sheppard Frere, "A Medieval Pottery at Ashstead,"
in Surrey Arch. Collections, XLVII (1941), 58-68.
REPORT BY G. C. DUNNING.
The pottery from the Tyler Hill kiln-site is welcome addition to the
somewhat scanty material of this period from Kent. The kiln produced the
usual range of types, consisting of jugs of at least two main shapes,
one tall and slender and the other more squat and ovoid, also
cooking-pots, bowls or dishes and pipkins, etc. (Figs. 1-2). The
material is fragmentary, but the types may be reconstructed by
comparison with pottery from local sites in the Maidstone Museum,
drawings of which are included in this report (Fig. 3).
The Tyler Hill pottery belongs to one period and that
apparently was a short one, to judge by the selection sent to me for
examination. In character it agrees with material from many sites dated
late thirteenth century. In particular the parallels quoted from Bungay
Castle, dated 1294, and from the kilns at Rye, which are of this period,
provide satisfactory evidence. On the whole a date towards the end of
the thirteenth century (c. 1275-1300) is indicated for the products of
the Tyler Hill kiln. |
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JUGS.
1. Fragments of jug of grey ware with orange red surface.
Mottled-green glaze on the body and splashed on the front of the neck.
The rim is thick and angular with internal bevel, and on the neck is a
prominent angular moulding. The upper end of a broad handle is
preserved, with deep thumb-marks at each side. The body has zonal
decoration, consisting of rows of closely set scales made by pressing
the finger-tip into the surface of the pot and squeezing the clay
upwards, separated by incised girth-grooves. The decoration may have
extended further towards the base than as shown in the drawing. The base
is marked by continuous deep thumb-marks, pressing the edge down to the
lowest level. The jug is of tall slender shape, about 19 in. high. In
proportions and technical details, such as the form of the base, it is
closely similar to a jug 13 1/2 in. high from Upchurch (Fig. 3, 1) which
has been used to complete the drawing.
2. Neck of jug of grey ware with thick dark green glaze.
The rim is inbent and thickened, with three deep girth-grooves outside.
Large pinch-out lip for pouring.
3. Neck of similar jug of grey ware with orange red surface
and traces of green glaze. Rim-section similar to No. 2.
4. Neck of jug of grey ware with light orange red surface
and thin green glaze. Rim-section similar to above, with offset on the
neck. |