YORAT 1998.15 – ALDWARK, NORTH YORKSHIRE

 

Ceramic Building Materials

 

S Garside-Neville

 

Medieval/Post medieval material

The sample comprises plain and peg roofing tile, and a few fragments of brick.    The dating of the plain or peg tile is problematic due to no previous study of ceramic building materials in this area, and the fact that plain tile was used well into the post medieval period.  The only diagnostic factors can be how refined the clay is, the method of manufacture, and  the fineness of the sanding.  In this case, the tiles appear to be entirely hand-made, and the fabric is not particularly refined.  On balance, the material is probably medieval in date 

 

The brick is very fragmentary, so no useful measurements can be taken.  Brick did not become common until the 14th century in nearby York, so it would be reasonable to think this is the same for Aldwark.

 

Recommendations

The sample is small and fragmentary, however there are obvious at least three different plain tile fabrics present.  This may indicate different sources for the plain tile found at Aldwark.  It is recommended that this sample is kept for further study, and that scientific analysis of the fabrics takes place to add to the study of ceramic building materials in Yorkshire.

 

Context

Form/s

Date

Spot date

2002

Peg (square peghole, T16)

13th+

Medieval

 

Plain (T12)

13th

 

2005

Brick

14th+

14-19th

 

Plain (T14)

13th+

 

2006

Plain (T12, T13, T12, T15, T19)

13th+

Medieval

3002

Plain (T14, T15)

13th+

Medieval

3003

Plain (T13, T14, T16, T17)

13th+

Medieval

5003

Plain

13th+

Medieval

 

sgn

11/98