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Record Details

NHER Number:11789
Type of record:Monument
Name:Site of Late Saxon and medieval pottery works and multi-period finds

Summary

From the 1960s onwards several Late Saxon and medieval pottery kilns have been excavated at this site, recovering a large amount of Late Saxon and medieval pottery. The remains of medieval buildings have also been found on the site.
Various rectangular enclosures of unknown date are visible as cropmark on aerial photographs.
Extensive metal-detecting between 1981 and 2014 recovered Late Saxon and medieval pottery sherds; Roman, Late Saxon, medieval and post-medieval coins (including a notable number of Late Saxon coins); a post-medieval token and a range of Late Bronze Age to post-medieval metal objects. The metal finds include a Late Bronze Age spearhead and socketed axehead; several Iron Age objects; a Late Iron Age/Roman pendant; an Early Saxon wrist clasp hook plate and brooch; an Early-Middle Saxon mount; Late Saxon buckles and a bridle cheek piece; medieval and post-medieval dress accessories; a medieval book clasp, box mount, arrowhead, thimble, casket mount, harness fitting, seal matrices and dagger pommel; medieval/post-medieval copper alloy rings and a post-medieval hasp and 'peasant' finger ring.

Images

  • Iron Age pendant from NHER 11789 © Norfolk County Council
  • Medieval seal matrix from NHER 11789 © Norfolk County Council
  • Medieval seal matrix cast from NHER 11789 © Norfolk County Council
  • early Saxon sleeve clasp from NHER 11789 © Norfolk County Council
  • Medieval seal matrix from NHER 11789 © Norfolk County Council
  • Medieval seal matrix cast from NHER 11789 © Norfolk County Council
  • Iron Age pendant from NHER 11789 © Norfolk County Council
  • Medieval strap fitting from NHER 11789 © Norfolk County Council
  • Late Saxon buckle from NHER 11789 © Norfolk County Council
  • Bronze Age socketed axehead from NHER 11789 © Norfolk County Council
  • Bronze Age socketed axehead from NHER 11789 © Norfolk County Council
  • Medieval buckle from NHER 11789 © Norfolk County Council
  • Early Saxon cruciform brooch from NHER 11789 © Norfolk County Council
  • Bronze Age socketed axe from NHER 11789 © Norfolk County Council
  • Middle Saxon mount from NHER 11789 © Norfolk County Council
  • Middle Saxon mount from NHER 11789 © Norfolk County Council

Location

Grid Reference:Not displayed
Map Sheet:TF72SW
Parish:GRIMSTON, WEST NORFOLK, NORFOLK

Full description

1961. Stray Finds.
An extensive spread of Late Saxon and medieval pottery, other artefacts recovered such as wasters and fired clay may indicate a kiln site.
Material is now stored in KLM.
See (S2) for short summery.

1962-1963. Excavation.
Excavation was carried out by J.O.H. Nicholls, on kiln was located and cleared; this was a single-flute, up-draught type. The chamber was oval and the clay walls below the modern ground surface were 8-9 inches thick, no kiln furniture was found. The stoke-hole was at the north end was excavated7ft from the kiln flute. Pottery that was recovered from this site included storage jars and spouted pitcher and was mainly Thetford ware. A sample was taken from the kiln to be used for magnetic dating and this data suggests that the kiln was possibly 12th century.
Another site was also investigated and produced a large collection of kiln-material; another kiln was also located but not excavated. Material recovered from this area also included Thetford ware and a spouted pitcher. A large collection of 12th century and 13th to 14th century were also recovered from the surface of the field.
Material is now kept at NCM and KLM.
See (S3) for more information.

1964. Excavation.
Excavation on pottery production site.

1970.
Finds of Late Saxon pottery.

1972.
Further excavation of kilns.

1974 to 1985.
Cropmarks of enclosures, roads and others.

1979 to 1980.
Medieval sherds found.

1981.
Kiln material found.
Seal found with metal detecting.

1983.
Late Saxon to medieval sherds found.

Pre 1985.
Medieval sherds found.

1985 to 1986.
Excavation produced Late Saxon to medieval pottery.
See (S4) in the Illustration Library.

1990. Metal detecting find.
Medieval copper alloy buckle.

1991. Metal detecting find.
Roman coin

1992. Metal detecting finds.
Medieval coin and arrowhead.

1993. Metal detecting finds.
Medieval coin and metalwork, Late Saxon and medieval sherds
See full details, plans, drawings and press cuttings in file, and (S1).
E. Rose (NLA) 29 November 1990.

25 July 1996. NLA air photography.
Extensive area of cropmarks still visible, consisting of a series of co-joined rectilinear enclosures, with internal divisions and pit like features. Has appearance of 'ladder' settlement/enclosures.
S. Massey (NLA), 22 November 2001.

1999. Metal detecting.
Late Saxon bridle cheek piece.
Medieval box mount
1 Late Saxon and 1 post medieval coin.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 1 November 1999.

October to November 1999. Metal detecting.
Late Saxon buckle.
Medieval and post medieval finds.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 30 November 1999.

October 2000 or earlier. Metal detecting.
Context 2.
1 post medieval coin (and 1 late post medieval coin).
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 30 November 2000.

November 2000. Metal detecting.
1 Roman coin, medieval, post medieval and undatable metal objects.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 2 February 2001.

November 2001. Metal detecting.
Late Saxon coin.
Medieval coin.
Medieval and post medieval metal finds.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 3 February 2001.

July/August 2003. Metal detecting.
Medieval coin.
2 medieval seal matrices and medieval dagger pommel.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 8 September 2003.

August/September 2003. Metal detecting.
Medieval coin.
Medieval metal objects.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 10 October 2003.

Before 4 April 2005. Metal detecting.
Late Bronze Age (S5), Iron Age (S6), Roman, medieval and undatable metal objects.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 12 June 2005.

Before 4 July 2005. Metal detecting.
One Late Saxon and thirteen medieval coins in one area.
Five medieval and one post medieval coins in another.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 12 June 2005.

January 2006. Metal detecting.
Medieval and post medieval metal objects.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 6 April 2006.

December 2011-January 2012. Metal-detecting.
A few medieval coins listed and recorded under HER 37204 were found on this site but subsequently muddled.
A. Rogerson (HES), 9 February 2012.

September-November 2012. Metal-detecting. [5] and [6].
Late Iron Age/early Roman pendant, (S7).
2 Roman coins.
Early Saxon hook-plate from a wrist clasp.
2 Late Saxon coins and a buckle.
9 medieval coins, seal matrices, buckles, a belt mount, thimble, strap-loop and an incomplete strap clasp.
1 post-medieval token and a 'peasant' finger-ring.
Information from PAS import.
A. Beckham (HES), 4 December 2012.

September-October 2013. Metal-detecting. [7].
Late Bronze Age socketed axehead (S8).
12 medieval coins, a fragment of casket mount and a pendent loop.
Post-medieval hasp.
Information from PAS import.
A. Beckham (HES), 11 November 2013.

October-November 2013. Metal-detecting. [8].
Late Bronze Age socketed axe fragment.
1 Roman coin.
Early Saxon brooch.
Early-Middle Saxon enamelled copper alloy escutcheon plate from a hanging bowl (S11).
1 Late Saxon coin.
Late Saxon to post-medieval lead spindle whorl.
4 medieval coins, buckles, strap-ends, a button, thimble, strap loop, bar mount and a brooch.
Medieval/post-medieval copper alloy rings and buckle.
Information from PAS import.
P. Watkins (HES), 2 December 2013.

January-February 2014. Metal-detecting. [9].
1 Roman coin.
Medieval buckle and book clasp.
Medieval/post-medieval copper alloy ring.
Information from PAS import.
A. Beckham (HES), 3 March 2014.

November-December 2014. Metal-detecting. [10].
1 Roman coin.
8 medieval coins, a buckle, brooches and a harness fitting.
Post-medieval buckle and strap-end.
Object information from PAS import. See coin sheet in file.
A. Beckham (HES), 8 January 2015. Amended E. McDonald (HES), 6 December 2019.

6 July 2015.
The medieval brooch reported as Treasure Case 2015 T189, was declared Treasure at inquest.
E. Darch (HES), 22 July 2015.

(S9) - PAS details to follow.
J. Richards (HES), 27 July 2015.

(S10) - PAS details to follow.
J. Richards (HES), 2 September 2015.

Monument Types

  • FINDSPOT (Unknown date)
  • RECTANGULAR ENCLOSURE (Unknown date)
  • RECTILINEAR ENCLOSURE (Unknown date)
  • ROAD (Unknown date)
  • FINDSPOT (Late Bronze Age - 1000 BC to 701 BC)
  • FINDSPOT (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Late Iron Age to Roman - 100 BC to 409 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Early Saxon - 410 AD to 650 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Early Saxon to Middle Saxon - 410 AD to 850 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • PIT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • POTTERY KILN (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • POTTERY WORKS (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • BUILDING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • POTTERY KILN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • POTTERY WORKS (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Associated Finds

  • BRIQUETAGE (Undated)
  • METAL WORKING DEBRIS (Undated)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Unknown date)
  • SOCKETED AXEHEAD (Late Bronze Age - 1000 BC to 701 BC)
  • SPEAR (Late Bronze Age - 1000 BC to 701 BC)
  • BROOCH (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • DRESS FASTENER (DRESS) (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • FURNITURE FITTING (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • MOUNT (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • SWORD (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • PENDANT (Late Iron Age to Roman - 100 BC to 100 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 196 AD to 211 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 260 AD to 268 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 286 AD to 293 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 322 AD to 323 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 330 AD to 378 AD)
  • SLEEVE CLASP (Early Saxon - 475 AD to 525 AD)
  • BROOCH (Early Saxon - 480 AD to 530 AD)
  • HANGING BOWL (Early Saxon to Middle Saxon - 600 AD to 700 AD)
  • BRIDLE BIT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • COIN (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • POT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • POT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Late Saxon to Medieval - 1000 AD to 1100 AD)
  • SOCKETED AXEHEAD (Late Saxon to Middle Saxon - 1000 AD to 700 AD)
  • SPINDLE WHORL (Late Saxon to 16th Century - 1000 AD to 1600 AD)
  • COIN (Late Saxon - 1017 AD to 1023 AD)
  • COIN (Late Saxon - 1029 AD to 1036 AD)
  • COIN (Late Saxon - 1053 AD to 1056 AD)
  • ANIMAL REMAINS (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • ARCHITECTURAL FRAGMENT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • ARCHITECTURAL FRAGMENT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • ARCHITECTURAL FRAGMENT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • ARROWHEAD (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BOX (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • CANDLE HOLDER (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • CAULDRON (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • DAGGER (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • FURNITURE FITTING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • HARNESS PENDANT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • HORSESHOE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • KEY (LOCKING) (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • KNIFE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • MIRROR CASE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • SEAL (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • SEAL MATRIX (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • SEAL MATRIX (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • SEAL MATRIX (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • TAP (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • WASTER (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • WEIGHT (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1180 AD to 1185 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1180 AD to 1185 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1180 AD to 1185 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1185 AD to 1189 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1194 AD to 1200 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1194 AD to 1200 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1194 AD to 1200 AD)
  • BROOCH (Medieval - 1200 AD to 1400 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1200 AD to 1300 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1200 AD to 1400 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1200 AD to 1400 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1200 AD to 1400 AD)
  • FURNITURE FITTING (Medieval - 1200 AD to 1300 AD)
  • HARNESS FITTING (Medieval - 1200 AD to 1400 AD)
  • MOUNT (Medieval - 1200 AD to 1400 AD)
  • SEAL MATRIX (Medieval - 1200 AD to 1300 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Medieval - 1200 AD to 1400 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1213 AD to 1215 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1222 AD to 1236 AD)
  • BUTTON (Medieval - 1230 AD to 1450 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1236 AD to 1242 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1248 AD to 1250 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1248 AD to 1250 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1248 AD to 1250 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1248 AD to 1250 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1251 AD to 1272 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1251 AD to 1272 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1270 AD to 1300 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1279 AD to 1279 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1280 AD to 1280 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1280 AD to 1281 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1280 AD to 1281 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1299 AD to 1300 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1300 AD to 1400 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1300 AD to 1400 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1300 AD to 1400 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1300 AD to 1400 AD)
  • RING (Medieval to 16th Century - 1300 AD to 1600 AD)
  • RING (Medieval to 16th Century - 1300 AD to 1600 AD)
  • SEAL MATRIX (Medieval - 1300 AD to 1400 AD)
  • STRAP END (Medieval - 1300 AD to 1400 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Medieval - 1300 AD to 1400 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Medieval - 1300 AD to 1400 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Medieval - 1300 AD to 1400 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Medieval - 1300 AD to 1400 AD)
  • THIMBLE (Medieval - 1300 AD to 1400 AD)
  • THIMBLE (Medieval - 1300 AD to 1400 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1301 AD to 1333 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1305 AD to 1306 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1305 AD to 1306 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1306 AD to 1307 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1310 AD to 1314 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1315 AD to 1317 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1320 AD to 1333 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1335 AD to 1343 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1344 AD to 1351 AD)
  • BOOK FITTING (Medieval - 1350 AD to 1450 AD)
  • BROOCH (Medieval - 1350 AD to 1400 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1350 AD to 1425 AD)
  • STRAP END (Medieval - 1350 AD to 1450 AD)
  • STRAP END (Medieval - 1350 AD to 1450 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Medieval - 1350 AD to 1400 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1400 AD to 1500 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1400 AD to 1500 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1400 AD to 1500 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1400 AD to 1413 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1422 AD to 1427 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval to 16th Century - 1500 AD to 1600 AD)
  • CAULDRON (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • COIN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • COIN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • COIN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • FURNITURE FITTING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • HARNESS FITTING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • SCABBARD (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • THIMBLE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • BUCKLE (16th Century to 17th Century - 1600 AD to 1700 AD)
  • FINGER RING (16th Century to 17th Century - 1600 AD to 1700 AD)
  • HASP (16th Century to 17th Century - 1600 AD to 1700 AD)
  • TOKEN (17th Century - 1668 AD to 1668 AD)

Protected Status

  • SHINE

Sources and further reading

---Aerial Photograph: TF7121 A-ADF,ADG-AEM; TF7221 A-B.
---Photograph: I & RS. Digital finds image.
---Map: Finder's Map..
---Record Card: Ordnance Survey Staff. 1933-1979?. Ordnance Survey Record Cards. TF 72 SW 30 [3].
---Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
---Unpublished Document: Wade, K.. 1963. Preliminary Report: Excavations at Pott Row, Grimston. November/December.
---Unpublished Document: Nicholls, J.O.H.. Notebook.
---Article in Serial: Clarke, H. 1970. Excavations on a Kiln Site at Grimston, Pott Row, Norfolk. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XXXV Pt I pp 79-95.
---Photograph: 1985. Kiln Excavation.
---Newspaper Article: Lynn News. 1985. Youngsters search for past.
---Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Medieval. Grimston [6].
---Secondary File: Secondary File.
---Photograph: CUV, CVF 3-9.
---Collection: Norfolk Historic Environment Record Staff. 1975-[2000]. HER Record Notes. Norfolk Historic Environment Service.
---Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2015. Rare Norfolk finds are officially declared to be treasure. 7 July.
<S1>Monograph: Leah, M. et al.. 1994. The Late Saxon and Medieval Pottery Industry of Grimston, Norfolk: Excavations 1962 to 92.. East Anglian Archaeology. Vol 64.
<S2>Article in Serial: Wilson, D. M. and Hurst, D. G. 1964. Medieval Britain in 1961. Medieval Archaeology. Vol VI-VII (for 1962 and 1963) pp 306-349. p 348.
<S3>Article in Serial: Wilson, D. M. and Hurst, D. G. 1965. Medieval Britain in 1962 and 1963. Medieval Archaeology. Vol VIII (for 1964) pp 231-299. p 296.
<S4>Illustration: Rogerson, A. 1986. Rough plan of the excavation area by NORCAT in 1986.. Film. 1:20.
<S5>Illustration: Ashley, S.. 2005. Drawing of two Late Bronze Age copper alloy spearhead tips.. Film. 1:1.
<S6>Illustration: Gibbons, J.. 2005. Drawing of an Iron Age button.. Film. 2:1.
<S7>Illustration: Gibbons, J.. 2012. Drawing of an Late Iron Age or early Roman cast copper alloy pendant.. Film. 2:1.
<S8>Illustration: Gibbons, J. 2013. Drawing of small Late Bronze Age copper alloy socketed axe.. Film. 1:1.
<S9>Illustration: Gibbons, J. 2015. Drawing of incomplete Late Bronze Age copper alloy razor. Film. 1:1.
<S10>Illustration: Gibbons, J. 2014. Drawing of fragment of mouth of a probable Late Bronze Age socketed axe. Film. 1:1.
<S11>Illustration: Gibbons, J. 2014. Drawing of fragment of an Early to Middle Saxon enamelled copper alloy escutcheon plate. Film. 2:1.

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