BKW 99 - ISLE
OF DOGS, LONDON
Ceramic
Building Materials
by S Garside-Neville
Introduction
Two
boxes of ceramic building material were submitted for examination. The material ranges from medieval to post
medieval in date, and comprises roof tile, wall tiles, floor tile, brick and a
fragment of stove tile.
Medieval Material
The
most common form of roofing material for London in the medieval period was
two-holed peg (or plain) tiles. There
is one fragment of plain roofing material from 6/006 that may well be medieval
in date. However, the bulk of the
sample of plain roofing tile may be post medieval in date.
Post medieval material
A
sample of bricks was examined. Some of
the bricks have quite typical features associated with bricks of the 16th and
early 17th century, eg. measurements and bright red colour. Others have a more uncertain set of
measurements and fabrics. Using Lloyd's
(1925) measurements for comparison and the measurements set by various statutes
and acts, it has been possible to give some indication of the date of the
remaining sample.
One
brick, from 5/002, is obviously from the 20th century, and may be a paver. It has a brick stamp which seems to show the
initials BBC, and kiln number (5). It
is possible that this stamp is of the Butterley Brick Company, but further
research would be needed to confirm this.
There
is a fragment of green glazed stove tile from 2/001. It is part of the coat of arms of James I, and shows a unicorn
sinister. It dates to between 1603 and
1625. This tile fits exactly into
matrix III as described and illustrated by Gaimster (1988, 319 and fig 5). It is Gaimster's form b, which has a regular
frame-like flange in red earthenware, and the moulded panel of the arms is in a
white-firing clay. The back shows
cloth impressions. It is likely that
matrix III types are products of the Hampshire-Surrey borders pottery industry,
which are termed as Tudor Green Ware (Gaimster 1988, 320). Other well provenanced examples of matrix
III are known from Cove (Hants), and the site of Wimbledon Manor (Gaimster
1988, 331-2). Traces of mortar along a
broken edge points to reuse. The tile
was found in Trench 2 which is thought to include the foundations for 'The
Mansion House', so may well be associated with the fittings of the house.
There
is one fragment of plain, unglazed floor tile of the type which can be
associated with the post medieval period.
Pan
tile is present, and can occur as early as the 17th century, though is used
into the 20th century.
Modern
material is represented by two tiles, one of white glass which may have come
from a bathroom or kitchen. The other
blue glazed, dust pressed tile may have come from a fire surround.
Conclusion
There
is a range of 17th century material, with bricks, stove tile and floor tile,
and probable peg tile, included in the building programme on the site. Other
works are hinted at by bricks of different measurements. There is the hint of some medieval activity
in the area.
The
sample should be retained for further study.
In particular, the fabrics of the bricks and roof tiles should be tied
into the collection of the Museum of London.
This will help pinpoint the date of the brick and tile from the site.
Bibliography
Gaimster
D, 1988. 'Post-medieval ceramic stove-tiles bearing the Royal Arms: evidence
for their manufacture and use in southern Britain' Archaeol J 145, 314-343
Lloyd
N, 1925. A history of English brickwork
H Greville Montgomery (reprinted
1990, Antique Collectors' Club)
Context Listing
Key:
E =
Early
L =
Late
M =
Middle
MED
= Medieval
PM
= Post medieval
EPM
= Early Post Medieval
|
Context |
Form |
L |
B |
T |
Comments |
Date range |
Spot date |
|
0 |
WALL |
0 |
0 |
7 |
PLAIN WHITE GLASS, BATH TILE |
1920S-30S |
1920S-30S |
|
2001 |
BRICK |
0 |
0 |
66 |
YELLOW STOCK OUTER, REDUCED INNER |
E18-19 |
18TH |
|
|
PAN |
0 |
0 |
14 |
|
17-20TH |
|
|
|
PEG |
0 |
0 |
0 |
REUSED; X 2 PEGHOLES |
MED-PM |
|
|
|
PLAIN |
0 |
0 |
11 |
|
MED-PM |
|
|
|
PLAIN |
0 |
0 |
0 |
X 2 FRAGS |
MED-PM |
|
|
|
POT? |
0 |
0 |
0 |
REDUCED; BROWN |
? |
|
|
|
STOVE |
0 |
0 |
0 |
JAMES 1 COAT OF ARMS; UNICORN
(SINISTER); REUSED |
1603-1625 |
|
|
2006 |
BRICK |
0 |
109 |
59 |
PURPLE FABRIC, FINE MOULDING SAND;
3/4 BAT |
17TH+ |
17TH+ |
|
2007 |
BRICK |
238 |
113 |
58 |
UNEVEN; SKEWED; FINE SANDING;
OVERFIRED |
17-18TH |
17-18TH |
|
2011 |
BRICK |
217 |
99 |
60 |
PURPLE, SILTY, CREASES |
17-18TH |
17-18TH |
|
2014 |
BRICK |
0 |
110 |
58 |
RED BROWN FABRIC; CREASED; 3/4 BAT;
PLASTERED STRETCHER |
17TH+ |
17TH+ |
|
2026 |
PLAIN |
0 |
0 |
13 |
BRIGHT RED FABRIC |
MED-PM |
EPM |
|
|
PLAIN |
0 |
0 |
12 |
|
MED-PM |
|
|
|
PLAIN |
0 |
0 |
13 |
X 2; REUSED, BRIGHT RED FABRIC |
MED-PM |
|
|
|
PLAIN |
0 |
0 |
13 |
MORTAR; REUSED |
MED-PM |
|
|
|
PLAIN |
0 |
0 |
13 |
REUSED; BROWN FABRIC |
MED-PM |
|
|
2027 |
BRICK |
220 |
115 |
58 |
ORANGE RED FABRIC; SLOP MOULDED |
16-17TH |
17TH |
|
|
BRICK |
235 |
113 |
58 |
BRIGHT RED, WORN & EXPOSED
HEADER, INDENTED BORDER |
16-17TH |
|
|
4017 |
BRICK |
218 |
110 |
62 |
LIME MORTAR; ORANGE RED FABRIC;
?SLOP MOULDED |
16-17TH |
17TH |
|
4024 |
BRICK |
220 |
109 |
65 |
INDENTED BORDER; ROUNDED ARISSES;
PURPLE BROWN FABRIC |
16-17TH |
17TH |
|
4026 |
PEG |
0 |
0 |
13 |
PEGHOLE BLOCKED WITH MORTAR; BRIGHT
RED FABRIC |
MED-PM |
EPM |
|
4026 |
PLAIN |
0 |
0 |
14 |
|
MED-PM |
|
|
5002 |
BRICK |
225 |
108 |
55 |
BRICK STAMP - BUTTERLEY BRICK,
DERBYS?; PAVING BRICK; DENSE SLATE GREY FABRIC |
1950S-1980S |
1950S-80S |
|
|
PLAIN |
0 |
0 |
14 |
?SOOTED; POSSIBLY PAN TILE |
PM |
|
|
|
WALL |
0 |
0 |
9 |
DUST PRESSED; BRIGHT BLUE UPPER
SURFACE |
L19-M20TH |
|
|
6006 |
PLAIN |
0 |
0 |
0 |
FABRIC 2271? |
MED |
MED |
|
6007 |
PLAIN |
0 |
0 |
0 |
X 8 FRAGS; BRIGHT RED FABRIC |
MED-PM |
MED-PM |
|
|
PLAIN |
0 |
0 |
13 |
REUSED; BRIGHT RED FABRIC |
MED-PM |
|
|
6008 |
BRICK |
0 |
0 |
0 |
PURPLE FABRIC |
MED-PM |
17-20TH |
|
|
PAN? |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
17-20TH |
|
|
|
PEG |
0 |
0 |
0 |
CIRCULAR PEGHOLE 10MM ACROSS; PLACED
10MM FROM TOP SIDE, 45MM FROM LEFT SIDE |
MED-PM |
|