Monument record MDO7063 - Pottery kiln and saltworks at Shipstal Point, Arne

Occupation debris connected with the salt industry occurs in a strip at least 170 yards long and 25 yards wide at the edge of the scarp bordering the mud-flats of Poole Harbour S of Shipstal Point (central point SY 98198809).

Material excavated by H. P. Smith is untraced, but the few subsequent finds of pottery, mostly oxidized, suggest activity in the 1st or 2nd century, while small fragments of briquetage are consistent with material from similar local saltings. Smith records the characteristic hand moulded clay supports for the brine containers, but misinterpreting them, as `kiln rests' and also part of a floor of fired clay which he assigned to a pottery kiln, but which was more probably a salter's hearth as at Warsash (Hampshire Field Club, Procs. XIII, pt I (1935), 105-9) or Ingoldmells, Lincolnshire (Ant. J. XII (1932), 239-253). Objects found recently are in Dorset County Museum (Dorset Procs LVI (1934), 16-17; LXXIV (1952), 96: LXXXIV (1962), 142; J.R.S. XXIV (1934), 216; H. P. Smith, History of Poole, I (1948), 88.) <2-4>

Listed by Swan. <8>

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1963 (Map). SWX1540.

(SY 98208815) Romano-British Pottery Kiln (R) (Site of)

<2> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1953, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1952, 96 (Serial). SDO52.

‘Romano-British kiln(?) site, Shipstal Point (Arne); SY(30)/98188806. Mr. P. A. Brown reports a scatter of Romano-British sherds visible on the low bank dividing high water mark from the heathland rising to the west, and stretching for approximately 50 yards north and south. This site is not a new discovery, but Mr. Brown’s note is useful in giving the location, not hitherto published, of the late Mr. H. P. Smith’s suggested pottery kiln site extending some 250 yards along the shore and an unknown distance inland [Footnote: H. P. Smith, Proc. D.N.H. & A.S., Vol. 56 (1934), pp. 16-17, and ‘History of Poole’, Vol. I, p. 88. Mr. K. A. P. Smith has kindly confirmed for me the identity of this site with that discovered by his father.]’

<3> Farrar, R A H, 1962, A Note on the Prehistoric and Roman Salt Industry in Relation to the Wyke Regis Site, Dorset, 142 (Article in serial). SWX1049.

<4> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 493 (Monograph). SDO150.

‘(54) SHIPSTAL (SY 98 NE). Occupation Debris connected with the salt industry occurs in a strip at least 170 yds. long and 25 yds. wide at the edge of the scarp bordering the mud-flats of Poole Harbour S. of Shipstal Point (central point, 98198809).
Material excavated by H. P. Smith is untraced, but the few subsequent finds of pottery, mostly oxidized, suggest activity in the 1st or 2nd century, while small fragments of'briquetage' are consistent with material from similar local saltings. Smith records, however, the characteristic hand-moulded clay supports for the brine containers, misinterpreting them as 'kiln rests', and also part of a floor of fired clay which he assigned to a pottery-kiln, but which was more probably a Salter's hearth as at Warsash (Hampshire Field Club, Procs. XIII, pt. 1 (1935), 105–9) or Ingoldmells, Lincolnshire (Ant. J. XII (1932), 239–253). Objects found recently are in D.C.M. (Dorset Procs. LVI (1934), 16–17; LXXIV (1952), 96; LXXXIV (1962), 142; J.R.S. XXIV (1934), 216; H.P. Smith, History of Poole, I (1948), 88.)’

<5> Farrar, R A H, 1973, The Techniques and Sources of Romano-British Black-Burnished Ware (Article in monograph). SDO16399.

<6> (R A H Farrar), 1975, Prehistoric and Roman Saltworks in Dorset (Article in monograph). SWX2805.

<7> Papworth, M D J, Trust for Wessex Archaeology, 1983, Isle of Purbeck Survey, IOP 94 (Index). SDO147.

‘Site lies on heathland within a RSPB nature reserve on the coast west of mudflats and saltmarshes within Poole harbour. 7/7/C.’

<8> Swan V G, 1984, The Pottery Kilns of Roman Britain, 261 (Monograph). SWX2878.

<9> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, Externally held archive: RCH01/093 RCHME Inventory: Dorset II (South-East) (Unpublished document). SDO17434.

<10> Historic England, Historic England Archive, CC74/00399 (Index). SDO14738.

PLAN SHOWING AREA AFFECTED BY RB SALTWORKING ALSO POSSIBLE POTTERY KILN IN THIS AREA. PLAN BY N.H.FIELD

<11> National Record of the Historic Environment, 456624 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Apr 20 2023 4:07PM