SDO13880 - An Archaeological Evaluation of a Proposed Car Park at the 'Potters Wheel' Site, Verwood, Dorset

An archaeological field evaluation at the ‘Potters Wheel’ site, Verwood was carried out by AC archaeology during late February 2000. The site occupies an area of approximately 0.34 hectares on former heathland on the south side of the Ringwood Road, The site was formerly occupied by the ‘Crossroads’ pottery kiln; one of the Verwood District potteries in use from at least 1812 until its closure in 1952. This was the last functioning kiln in the area. One of the associated buildings known as the ‘Potters Wheel’ is still standing on the north side, close to the entrance to the site. The evaluation comprised the machine excavation of six trenches and two hand-dug trial pits, amounting to an approximate 2% sample of the site. All the trenches, except for Trench 2, contained either evidence for subsoil features or structural activity considered to be associated with use of the nearby pottery kiln. These features comprised building foundations of a former cottage in Trench 1 and foundations for another structure in Trench 5, both shown on the 1885 and 1901 25” Ordnance Survey maps. Of the subsoil features excavated, all appeared to represent rubbish pits or dumped spreads of material and possible ditches. All of these features contained post-medieval finds dating from the 19th to early-mid 20th century and were concentrated within the northern zone of the proposed development area. Some of these pits may have been dug to clear the site after its closure. Both trial pits also contained evidence associated with the use of the former kiln, including surface make-up and subsoil features. Activity on the site pre-dating 1812 was indicated by the discovery of several sherds with manganese glaze, including probable kiln furniture, which is considered to represent pre-1790 production techniques and may indicate that pottery manufacture was being undertaken on the site at an earlier date than previously thought.