YORYM 1995.47 - ALL SAINTS, PAVEMENT, YORK

Ceramic Building Materials

S Garside-Neville

INTRODUCTION

There are 148 contexts with Ceramic Building Material (CBM) from the church.  The amount of CBM from each context ranges from many small bags containing one fragment to large bags containing many pieces.  It consists of the following material:

1.1      Roman material

Roman material from this sample consists of roof tile (imbrex and tegula) and brick.  All the material is fragmentary, and much of it shows signs of reuse.

1.2      Earlier medieval material

The sample has good quantities of material that can be currently dated to the 12th or early 13th centuries.  This material consists of the curved and flanged roof tile system, which preceded the later peg or nib tile.  Much of the material shows signs of reuse (ie. mortar along broken edges).

There are seven fragments of glazed relief floor tiles that belong to a nationally recognisable group that have been variously dated to the 10th or 11th century (Betts, 1985, 291-307; Gem & Keen, 1981, 20-26) and in York as late as the 12th century (Hall, 1984, 113 and 126-7).  The tiles have been found before at All Saints and also at nearby Coppergate (Keen, 1993).  The fragments all have designs previously catalogued by Keen, and correspond to his numbers 7 or 11, 2, 15, and 8 or 18.  Three fragments are too small to show a pattern, but have the right glaze, bevel, or stab marks on the back so almost certainly belong to this group.  The earliest context in which a fragment of glazed relief tile has been found during the 1995 excavations is currently dated to the early 14th century and was found with other ceramic building materials that probably date to the 12th century.

1.3      Medieval material

This consists of roof tile, brick and floor tile.  The roof tile appears to be almost exclusively ceramic.  There is only one fragment of stone that may have been used for roofing.  The ceramic tile consists of many body fragments of plain, or flat, roofing tile.  Diagnostic pieces have mainly square pegholes, though there is one example of a nib tile.  This is typical of York sites.  This material is likely to date from the 13th to the 15th century.  There are several examples of a fabric that can be dated to the  14th century onwards.

Ridge tile is probably present, but caution has to be exercised

in its identification as it cannot be readily discerned from curved tile, unless there is a diagnostic fragment (eg. a large fragment, a nailhole, or a fabric associated exclusively with one form).  No crested ridge was found, but this may be due to the fact that the excavation mostly took place inside the 14th century church.

There is one large fragment of hip tile, which would have been used to cover the join between two angles of a roof.

Medieval brick is present in small quantities.  The fragments found were typical of material dating to the 14th and 15th centuries.

There are fragments of plain glazed floor tile, which may well be of Flemish origin.  These are generally dated to between the 14th

and 16th centuries.  There are pieces which may have been from tiles measuring around 200mm square, and a green glazed example measuring 115mm square.

 

Added to this, there are fragments which do not conform to the Flemish characteristics.  One fragment is 40mm thick, has a mottled yellow-brown glaze, and what appears to be keying on the lower surface.  Another piece has a light brown glaze, and is 26mm thick.  There are also other fragments of floor tile scattered across the sample.

 

1.4      Post medieval material

This consists of brick and the occasional fragment of pantile.

It represents a very small part of the sample.

2.0      ACADEMIC OBJECTIVES

2.1      Dating

The CBM should provide an indication of dating for the various structures and activities in the church.  For example, the presence of curved and flanged tile may indicate a 12th century building, or closer examination of the peg tile fabrics may give

a better indication of dating.

2.2      Structure

The CBM will contribute to the knowledge of the structure of the church - eg. tiled roof, hipped roof lines, possible glazed flooring, etc.  The glazed relief tiles are a useful addition to the existing collection from the church's pavement.

2.3      Recording

Full recording of the sample will add to the available comparable CBM data with the city of York, and will enhance the study of its uses in the area.

3.0      METHODOLOGY

3.1      Assessment

- All CBM will be reviewed and recorded to create a complete and useful archive.

- All material will be recorded on a standard pro forma (see Appendix I)

- The processing of the sample will entail the creation of a fabric type series, and discarding of unfeatured pieces (after recording).  Approximately 80% of the sample will be discarded leaving no more than one box to be stored.  Only fragments of particular interest, such as floor tiles, complete or near complete roof tiles, or unusual pieces will be retained.

- All records will be computerised, incorporating site phasing and other finds dating.  This will facilitate the easy manipulation

of the data when analysing for report writing.

3.2      Analysis

Will entail:

- the phasing of CBM records, based on information provided by the excavators

- analysis of occurrence of forms

- analysis of occurrence of fabrics

- grouping of material in relation to structures and features

- observation of broad trends across the site

- research of specialised or unusual material, eg. the glazed relief tiles

- comparison of materials with other local/regional examples

5.0      REFERENCES

Betts, I M, 1985.  'A scientific investigation of the brick and

         tile industry of York to the mid-eighteenth century',

         unpublished PhD thesis, University of Bradford

Gem, R & Keen, L, 1981.  'Late Anglo-Saxon finds from the site of

         St Edmund's Abbey', Proc Suffolk Institute of Archaeol and

         Hist, 35, 1981, 1-30

Hall, R, 1984.  The Viking Dig.  Bodley Head

Keen, L, 1993.  'Pre-conquest glazed relief tiles from All Saints

         Church, Pavement, York', J of the British Archaeol Assoc,

 

November 1995


1995.47 - CONTEXT LISTING

Context                   Forms                      Date

u/s                       Brick                      18th+

u/s '4079'                Plain glazed floor tile    14th+

1006                      Plain                      13th+

1009                                                                                                    Hip, Plain, Brick, Peg,

                          Tegula                     17th+

20??                      Peg, Mill stone grit, Plain,

                          Curved/Ridge, Brick        14th+

2002                      Glazed floor tile          ?14th+

2005                      Plain                      13th+

2008                                                                                                    Plain, Limestone,

                        Curved/Ridge               13th+

2010                      Pan tile, Plain            17th+

2013                      Plain                      13th+

2015                      Plain                      13th+

2016                      Plain, Brick               16th+

2028                                                                                                    Plain, Glazed floor tile,

                        Worked limestone           14th+

2029                                                                                                    Plain, Peg, Curved/Ridge,

                        ?Roman Pot                 13th+

2030                                                                                                    Plain, Brick, Worked

                        limestone,?Floor tile      14th+

2033                                                                                                    Plain, Ridge, Medieval

                        brick, Plainglazed floor

                        tile, Flanged              14th+

2034                                                                                                    Ridge, Plain, Possible

                        Limestone roof tile        13th+

2035                      ?Floor tile                ?14th+

2038                      Plain, Peg                 13th+

2039                      Peg, Plain                 13th+

2040                      Plain                      13th+

2041                      Plain                      13th+

2042                      Plain, Pot, ?Pan tile      ?17th+

2046                      Plain, Brick      14th+

2047                      Imbrex                     Roman

2051                      Plain, Flanged, Flint, Peg 13th+

2054                      Plain, ?Ridge              13th+

2055                      Plain                      13th+

2057                      Plain, Sandstone           13th+

2062                      Plain, ?Flanged            13th+

3001                                                                                                    Sandstone, ?Glazed relief

                        tile, Plain, ?Roman,

                        Curved/Ridge               13th+

4001                      Limestone, Brick           14th+

4002                      Peg, Ridge                 13th+

4009                                                                                                    Curved/Ridge, Peg, Plain,

                        Brick                      14th+

4012                      ?Plain                     13th+

4015                      Plain, Mortar              14th+

4016                      Flanged, Peg               13th+

4020                      Curved, Flanged, Peg, Brick 14th+

4032                        Plain                     13th+

4034                                                                                                    /12\ and /269\ Glazed

                        relief tiles               ?10th-

                                                      12th

4049                      Peg, Flanged, Plain        13th+

4051                      Plain, Pot, ?Roman box flue 13th+

4052                                                                                                    Roman brick, Plain,

                        Curved/Ridge,Peg           13th

4053                      Curved/Ridge, ?Flanged,

                          Roman brick                12th+

4057                      Peg, Plain, Roman brick    13th+

4058                                                                                                    Plain, Medieval brick,

                        Peg, /9\ Glazed relief tile 14th+

4059                      Plain, Ridge, Brick        14th+

4061                      Plain                      13th+

4064                                                                                                    Plain, Sandstone,

                        Curved/Ridge               13th+

4064 or 4067              Brick                      18th+

4067                                                                                                    Curved/Ridge, Brick, Plain,

                        Imbrex/Ridge               18th+

4068                      Plain, Peg                 13th+

4069                      Flanged, Roman brick       12th-

                                                      e13th

4074                                                                                                    Sandstone, Glazed floor

                        tile, Curved/Ridge,

                        Flanged, Tegula, Limestone,

                        ?Plain                     ?13th

4079                                                                                                    Peg, Flanged, Plain,

                        Sandstone,Roman brick,

                        Plain glazed floor                                 tile, Floor tile,                                  Curved/Ridge               14th+

4081                      Flanged, Curved/Ridge,

                          ?Plain                     12th+

4085                      Plain                      13th+

4096                      Brick, Curved/Ridge, Plain 13th+

4112                      Peg, Plain                 13th+

4114                      Plain                      13th+

4115                      Plain                      13th+

4118                      Plain                      13th+

4121 or 4067              Plain, Chalk, Roman brick,

                          Brick, Slag, Medieval brick,

                          Curved/Ridge               14th+

4123                      /16\ Glazed relief tile    ?10th-

                                                      12th

4125                      Flanged                    12th-

                                                      e13th

4128                      ?Plain, Limestone, Plain   13th+

4129                      Plain                      13th+

4130                      Curved/Ridge, ?Plain       12th+

4131                      Brick, Plain, ?Gutter tile 14th+

4132                                                                                                    Limestone, Flanged,

                        ?Sandstone,Curved/Ridge,

                        /18\ Glazed relief tile    12th+

4133                      Limestone, Plain           13th+

4137                      Plain, Ridge               13th+

4142                      Imbrex, Curved/Ridge, Plain 13th+

4143                      Limestone, Mortar, Sandstone,

                          Plain, Curved/Ridge        13th+

4148                      Curved/Ridge, Plain        13th+

4151                      Curved/Ridge, ?Tegula,

                          ?Plain                     12th+

4155                      Flanged, Brick             14th+

4157                      Brick, Plain               14th+

4159                                                                                                    Tegula, Daub, Roman brick 

                        Roman Plain, Curved/Ridge,

                        ?Daub                      13th+

4169                      Roman brick                Roman

4174                      Flanged, ?Marble, Limestone,

                          Curved/Ridge, Plain, Roman

                          brick                      13th+

4175                      Flanged                    12th-

                                                      e13th

4176                      Curved/Ridge, ?Tegula      12th-

                                                      e13th

4177                                                                                                    Curved/Ridge, Flanged,

                        ?Plain                     12th+

4178                      ?Plain, Curved/Ridge       12th+

4178                                                                                                    Curved/Ridge, Flanged,

                        Sandstone, Pot, Tegula     12th+

4180                      ?Ridge                     13th+

4180/4188                 Limestone, Curved/Ridge,

                          Flanged, ?Plain            12th+

4181                      Curved/Ridge, ?Plain       12th+

4184                                                                                                    Oolitic limestone, Flange,

                        Curved                     12th-

                                                      e13th

4188                      Millstone grit, Limestone  ?

5008 Pile 3 'Above Stone' Plain                       13th+

5028 Pile 11, Core 2      Imbrex                     Roman

5030 Pile 12, Core 2      Flanged, Curved/Ridge,

                          ?Plain                     12th-

                                                      e13th

5031 Pile 13, Core 1      Curved/Ridge, ?Plain       12th-

                                                      e13th

5036 Pile 15, Core 1      Limestone, Plain, Pot      13th+

5037 Pile 15, Core 2      Peg, Plain                 13th+

5038 Pile 15, Core 3      Flanged, Curved/Ridge,

                          Roman Brick,?Plain         12th-

                                                      e13th

5039 Pile 16, Core 1      Curved/Ridge, Roman Brick,

                          Plain                      13th+

5040 Pile 16, Core 2      Plain, Curved/Ridge, Tegula,

                          Plain, Flanged             13th+

5041 Pile 16, Core 3      Flanged, Roman Brick,

                          ?Plain                     12th-

                                                      e13th

5042 Pile 17a, Core 1     Plain, Medieval Brick      14th+

5043 Pile 17a, Core 2     Plain, Medieval Brick      14th+

5044 Pile 17a, Core 3     Tegula                     Roman

5046 Pile 17b, Core 2     Plain                      13th+

5047 Pile 17b, Core 3     Plain, ?Amphora, Tegula    13th+

5049 Pile 18, Core 1      Plain                      13th+

5050 Pile 18, Core 2      Plain                      13th+

5053 Pile 19, Core 2      Brick, Peg, Plain          14th+

5059 Pile 20, Core 4      ?Roman brick               Roman

5062 Pile 21, Core 3      Plain                      13th+

5064 Pile 22, Core 1      Plain, Peg, Brick          14th+

5065 Pile 22, Core 2      Plain                      13th+

5066 Pile 22, Core 3      ?Plain                     ?13th+

5072 Pile 24, Core 1      Curved/Ridge, Plain        13th+

5073 Pile 24, Core 2      Plain                      13th+

5076 Pile 25, Core 1      Floor tile, Plain          ?13th+

5077 Pile 25, Core 2      ?Plain                     ?13th+

5079 Pile 26, Core 1      Plain                      13th+

5080 Pile 26, Core 2      Roman brick, Plain,

                          Imbrex/Ridge               13th+

5082 Pile 27, Core 1      Peg, Flanged,Medievalbrick 14th+

5084 Pile 27, Core 3      ?Plain                     ?13th+

5086 Pile 28, Core 1        Plain                     13th+

5087 Pile 28, Core 2      Plain, ?Glazed relief tile,

                          Curved/Ridge               13th+

5091 Pile 30, Core 1      Plain                      13th+

5092 Pile 30, Core 2      Plain                      13th+

5093 Pile 31, Core 1      Plain                      13th+

5094 Pile 31, Core 2      Curved/Ridge, ?Flanged     ?12th-

                                                      e13th

5098 Pile 32, Core 2      ?Plain                     ?13th+

5110/5100 Pile 33, Core 1 Brick                       14th+

5098 Pile 33, Core 2      Nib                        13th+

5074 Pile 24, Core 3      Brick                      14th+

5102 Pile 33, Core 3      Plain                      13th+

5105 Pile 34, Core 2      Roman brick,Medieval brick,

                          Plain                      14th+

5106 Pile 34, Core 3      Roman brick, Medieval brick 14th+

5108 Pile 35, Core 1      Medieval brick, Plain      14th+

5109 Pile 35, Core 2      Brick, Plain               14th+

5110 Pile 35, Core 3      Roman brick, Plain         13th+

5112 Pile 36, Core 1      Plain, ?Medieval brick     ?14th+

5113 Pile 36, Core 2      Roman brick, Plain,

                          Medieval brick             14th+

5114 Pile 36, Core 3      Roman, Curved/Ridge        12th+

5115 Pile 36, Core 4      Roman brick                Roman

5117 Pile 37, Core 1      Plain, Curved/Ridge        13th+

5119 Pile 37, Core 3      Plain                      13th+

5120 Pile 37, Core 4      ?Plain/?Flanged            ?12th+

5121 Pile 37, Core 5