Site Event/Activity record ESF19412 - Excavation and monitoring, Herny Watsons potteries, 2005-6
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Location
Location | WSF 056, Pottery Hill, Wattisfield |
---|---|
Grid reference | Centred TM 0138 7451 (108m by 76m) |
Map sheet | TM07SW |
Civil Parish | WATTISFIELD, MID SUFFOLK, SUFFOLK |
Technique(s)
Organisation
Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service
Date
Not recorded.
Description
A program of archaeological evaluation, excavation and monitoring was carried out on land that was formerly a part of the family run business Henry Watson's Potteries at Pottery Hill, Wattisfield, in advance of housing development. The bulk of the site did not contain any archaeological deposits and had evidently been open land until being covered by a modern clay dump. The remainder of the site had formerly been occupied by a 19th century yard and bottle kiln bordered by three ranges of buildings. Subsequent changes saw a still extant kiln built in 1940/41 and then a modern factory after a devastating fire in 1963. Fieldwork identified traces of the 19th century buildings but showed the bottle kiln had been wholly removed. Two previously unknown structures were located, the first being the possible base for a 19th century kiln. This has been preserved in situ. The second structure, a quadrant of a circular brick pad, was of unknown date and function. The main area of excavation identified the flues of a drying floor connected to the still standing down-draught kiln and chimney constructed in 1940/41. Following the fire in 1963 these flues were infilled and covered by the new factory concrete floor. These have also now been preserved in situ. Post-excavation work relied heavily upon material provided by Mr Jeremy Watson and this has demonstrated the potential for a full study of the history of pottery manufacture on the site using the private archive of the Watson family.
Project status: Complete Yes, Validated Yes
Previous/Future Work: Previous No, Future No
Associated Identifiers:
Sitecode WSF 056
HER event no. WSF 056
Planning Application No. OL/201/03
NMR No. 1449318
Project Type: Recording project
Investigation Type: Part Excavation, Watching Brief
Reason for Investigation: Direction from Local Planning Authority - PPG16
Current Land use: Industry and Commerce 1 - Industrial
Monument Type(s)/Period(s): POTTERY WORKS Post Medieval , POTTERY WORKS Modern
Artefact Type(s)/Period(s): POTTERY Modern
PROJECT LOCATION
Area 4030.00 Square metres
Grid Reference: TM01377453 Point
Height 49.00 - 50.00 metres
PROJECT CREATOR(S)
Brief originator: Local Authority Archaeologist and/or Planning Authority/advisory body
Design originator: Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service, Field Team
Director/Manager: David Gill
Supervisor: John Craven
DIGITAL ARCHIVE
Recipient: Suffolk County SMR
Contents: Ceramics
Media: Database, Images raster / digital photography, Text
PAPER ARCHIVE
Recipient: Suffolk County SMR
Contents: Ceramics
Media: Context sheet, Drawing, Photograph, Plan, Report, Section
PHYSICAL ARCHIVE
Recipient: Suffolk County SMR
Contents: Ceramics
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Publication Type: Grey literature (unpublished document/manuscript)
Title: Henry Watson’s Potteries, Pottery Hill, Wattisfield, WSF 056
Author(s)/Editor(s): Craven, J.A.
Other Bibliographic Details: SCCAS Report No. 2006/98
Date: 2006
Issuer/Publisher: SCCAS
Place of Issue or Publication: Bury St Edmunds
Description: SCCAS Excavation report
Sources/Archives (1)
- --- SSF52395 Unpublished document: Craven, J.. 2006. Excavation report. Henry Watson's Potteries, Wattisfield.
Related Monuments/Buildings (1)
- WSF 056 Henry Watsons Potteries, Pottery Hill (Monument)
Record last edited
Feb 11 2022 1:21PM