Hopton LMT Ware

Site: Hopton.
Period: Late Medieval (15th-16th centuries AD).
Excavator: Suffolk C.C. Archaeological Service.
Published: Anderson et al. 1996.

Brief description: Pottery was produced in Hopton and the surrounding parishes of Hinderclay, Thelnetham, Wattisfield and Rickinghall, during the 15th to 16th centuries. Kilns have been excavated at Hopton and Rickinghall. This centre of production forms an outlier to the Waveney Valley industry of Late Medieval and Transitional Pottery. All sites produced pale redwares (really buff to orange) with partial green glazes in a wider range of forms than had previously been manufactured by rural potteries. Jugs, bowls and jars were still made, but to these were added bunghole cisterns, dripping and fish dishes, large bowls (pancheons) for use in dairying, and pipkins and skillets for cooking. Slip and applied decoration, carrying on from the medieval industry, were still used, but overall the types were simpler and application of glaze was often careless. Shortcuts were probably made in the manufacturing process to allow for greater productivity.

Further reading

Anderson, S., Breen, A., Caruth, J. and Gill, D., 1996 'The late medieval pottery industry on the North Suffolk border', Medieval Ceramics 20.

Late Medieval and Transitional Ware

Site: Dragon Hall, Norwich.
Period: Late Medieval (15th-16th centuries AD).
Excavator: Norfolk Archaeological Unit.
Published: Anderson forthcoming.

Brief description: Pottery was produced in several parishes along the Waveney Valley and north-central Suffolk during the 15th to 16th centuries. Kilns have been excavated at Hopton (above) and Rickinghall. All sites produced pale redwares (really buff to orange) with partial green glazes in a wider range of forms than had previously been manufactured by rural potteries. Jugs, bowls and jars were still made, but to these were added bunghole cisterns, dripping and fish dishes, large bowls (pancheons) for use in dairying, and pipkins and skillets for cooking. The example shown here is a lid with a small applied face. It is a transitional form between the medieval use of applied face decoration and the plainer forms of the post-medieval period.

Further reading

Anderson, S., Breen, A., Caruth, J. and Gill, D., 1996, 'The late medieval pottery industry on the North Suffolk border', Medieval Ceramics 20.

Jennings, S., 1981, Eighteen Centuries of Pottery from Norwich, East Anglian Archaeology 13.