Promoting awareness of the archaeology and history of north Devon
Promoting awareness of the archaeology and history of north Devon
I am a recent NDAS member; a mechanical engineer by profession with no formal archaeological training but just a keen eye, lots of enthusiasm and a passion for all local archaeology and especially seventeenth century pottery. I am presently working on four sites, the first of which is Pickards Down on both sides of the large hill above Whiddon Valley next to the reservoir. My original motive for researching this site was in hopes of finding some evidence of Romano-British occupation. Thus far, no such evidence has come to light but instead, lots of seventeenth century sgraffito pottery sherds, all of which appear to have been made locally at the castle mound site (Photo 1). From their wide distribution it was clear that they were midden scatter, probably from the bottom of the hill. The site had been suggested by Alison Grant in her book North Devon Pottery: the Seventeenth Century as a possible source for galena lead glaze. There is a disused lead mine on the site (NGR 578330) and a shaft (NGR 578332) last worked in 1869. During the 1650s Alexander Horwood was the landowner. He was a rich merchant and mayor of Barnstaple and the pottery finds date from early to late seventeenth century.
My second site is at West Ashford near Limekiln Lane. I first went there on a hunch to look for more local sgraffito and it paid off. Again, from the distribution pattern, it was clear that they were midden scatter, probably from the top of the field. The nearby farmhouse was built on the site of an old manor house, which could account for their presence. There are lots of lumps and bumps in the top of the field and according to the landowner, these are the remnants of a row of three sixteenth or seventeenth century cottages and an old well. The bottom of the field is very sandy and shell- strewn from a time when the river Taw was much higher up the shoreline. Also, a right of way existed across the bottom of the field before the current road was built.
The third site is on private land at East the Water, Bideford. This site is different from the other two as the sgraffito finds are wasters from a presently unknown pottery. It is not yet clear whether these were dumped on site or from one of Bideford’s known potteries or from an unknown kiln nearby. A lot more research will be required to determine which is correct.
My fourth site is the biggest of all: the River Taw. I have had some fantastic finds of seventeenth century and earlier pottery from the river which came to light mainly because of the building work on the new Barnstaple bridge which changed the course of the river slightly. (Photo 2) My future plans are to do more original field studies on as many sites as possible having sgraffito pottery sherds in the Barnstaple area. I feel this project does have merit as some of the rim shapes and many of the designs and patterns found have not, to my knowledge, been recorded elsewhere. All my finds including sgraffito, clay pipes and seventeenth century plain ware, have been recorded and some photographed by Barnstaple Museum for which I must thank Ruth Squires and also Alison Mills for her expert advice.
As yet, little is known about the seventeenth century Barnstaple potters, but hopefully my research will shed more light on their history and that of Barnstaple.