Information for record number MWA3866:
Excavation of Roman pottery kilns at Cherrytree Farm

Summary The site of five pottery kilns that dated to the Roman period. They were situated 250m north-east of Cherrytree Farm near Mancetter.
What Is It?  
Type: Pottery Kiln, Kiln
Period: Romano-British (43 AD - 409 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Mancetter
District: North Warwickshire, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 32 95
(Data represented on this map shows the current selected record as a single point, this is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an accurate or complete representation of archaeological sites or features)
Level of Protection National - Old SMR PrefRef (Grade: )
Sites & Monuments Record
Description

  
Source Number  

1 Following on from MH 1983 (see MWA4233) a rescue excavation was set up in November 1983 to investigate the Roman kiln complex at Cherrytree Farm in advance of pipe laying. An area of 600 sq m was excavated to the north-west of the kilns uncovered in May 1983. Three more kilns were revealed lying within the north-west angle of a broad flat-bottomed ditch. The ditch had been recut on at least one occasion. Two kilns were orientated roughly east to west and are similar to types found previously in the complex. The third kiln was more unusual. The pottery from the kilns suggests that they were all making mortaria and coarse wares in varying proportions during the later 2nd century and early 3rd century. Other features included a large spread of ash and wasters and a pit.
2 Plan.
3 Noted.
4 Five Roman pottery kilns were revealed by topsoil stripping of an area c100m x 10m, prior to the laying of a water and gas pipeline in May 1983. All the kilns date to the 2nd century, and most probably to the second half of the century, though work on the pottery has not yet commenced. 3rd-4th century pottery found on the site is probably derived from later kilns nearby.
5 Plan.
6 Noted; kilns producing coarsewares and mortaria with associated features.
7 The pottery kilns have been recorded under the name Cherrytree Farm in national gazetteers of Roman pottery kilns. These kilns date from later 2nd century to the early 3rd century for the production of mortaria as well as oxidized and reduced coarse wares, whilst pottery of 3rd and 4th century pottery on the site was probably derived from nearby later kilns nearby. Some 62 pieces of mortaria with stamps were recovered.
8 The pottery produced by such kilns are shown by a number of websites. These include a series of photographs and illustrations showing the types of complete vessels, as well as the thin sections of the pottery vessels. These vessels were marketed widely across the country and examples been found between the Antonine Wall in Scotland and the south-east coast.
 
Sources
Source No: 3
Source Type: Article in serial
Title: Britannia: Roman Britain in 1983
Author/originator: S S Frere, MWC Hassall and R S O Tomlin
Date: 1984
Page Number: 265-356
Volume/Sheet: 15
   
Source No: 1
Source Type: Excavation Report
Title: Excavation of Roman Pottery Kilns at Cherry Tree Farm, Mancetter
Author/originator: Jones M
Date: 1983
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 8
Source Type: Internet Data
Title: Potsherd: Atlas of Roman Pottery
Author/originator: P A Tyers
Date: 2014
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 7
Source Type: Internet Data
Title: The Pottery Kilns of Roman Britain
Author/originator: Vivien G Swan & Andrew Peachey
Date: 2014
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Plan
Title: WMA
Author/originator:
Date: 1983
Page Number: 109
Volume/Sheet: 26
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Plan
Title: Cherry Tree Farm, Mancetter
Author/originator: Jones M
Date: 1983
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Serial
Title: WMA vol 26 (1983)
Author/originator: Carver, M O H (ed)
Date: 1984
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 26
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: Roman Mancetter (notes and site gazetteer)
Author/originator: Scott K?
Date: 1983?
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
source Britannia Britannia, the journal of the Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies which contains articles about the archaeology of Roman Britain. It is published annually and copies are held at the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
source WMA West Midlands Archaeology. This publication contains a short description for each of the sites where archaeological work has taken place in the previous year. It covers Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands and Worcestershire. Some of these descriptions include photographs, plans and drawings of the sites and/or the finds that have been discovered. The publication is produced by the Council For British Archaeology (CBA) West Midlands and is published annually. Copies are held at the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
technique excavation Archaeologists excavate sites so that they can find information and recover archaeological materials before they are destroyed by erosion, construction or changes in land-use.

Depending on how complicated and widespread the archaeological deposits are, excavation can be done by hand or with heavy machinery. Archaeologists may excavate a site in a number of ways; either by open area excavation, by digging a test pit or a trial trench.
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period Roman About 43 AD to 409 AD (the 1st century AD to the 5th century AD)

The Roman period comes after the Iron Age and before the Saxon period.

The Roman period in Britain began in 43 AD when a Roman commander called Aulus Plautius invaded the south coast, near Kent. There were a series of skirmishes with the native Britons, who were defeated. In the months that followed, more Roman troops arrived and slowly moved westwards and northwards.
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monument SITE * Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible. back
monument KILN * A furnace or oven for burning, baking or drying. Use specific type where known. back
monument FEATURE * Areas of indeterminate function. back
monument PIT * A hole or cavity in the ground, either natural or the result of excavation. Use more specific type where known. back
monument POTTERY KILN * A structure, composed of oven and hovel, used for the firing of pottery ware. back
monument WELL * A shaft or pit dug in the ground over a supply of spring-water. back
monument DITCH * A long and narrow hollow or trench dug in the ground, often used to carry water though it may be dry for much of the year. back
monument PIPELINE * A conduit or pipes, used primarily for conveying petroleum from oil wells to a refinery, or for supplying water to a town or district, etc. back
monument STAMPS * Form of ore crushing machinery associated with tin mines often wooden and water-powered. back
monument FARM * A tract of land, often including a farmhouse and ancillary buildings, used for the purpose of cultivation and the rearing of livestock, etc. Use more specific type where known. back
monument WALL * An enclosing structure composed of bricks, stones or similar materials, laid in courses. Use specific type where known. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record