Council Reports 9 Myland Heritage Group MILE END (MYLAND) POTTERY This article is very much based on Colchester Archaeological Trust (CAT) Report 1140—Pottery Production in Mile End (Colchester) in the 12th and 16th Centuries. The report is the result of archaeological examination of part of the Chesterwell development on land between the A134 and Boxted Road and was funded by Mersea Homes. This was carried out in 2017. In 1973, an excavation on the line of the A134 uncovered pits full of broken medieval pottery, indicating there was a medieval kiln somewhere close by. There had been previous discoveries of waste and kiln material in Mile End and Great Horkesley showing that pottery was produced here from 13th century until the 15th or 16th century. The vessels made were generally described as ‘early medieval sandy ware’, ‘medieval sandy grey ware’ or ‘Colchestertype ware’. The presence of pottery production in the area is reflected in some of the local places names seen in title maps of Mile End, such as Brick Field, Potters Field, Kiln Field and Clay Pits. The recent 2017 excavation discovered over 530kg of medieval pottery and a tile-built rectangular kiln. The finds included a significant amount of waste and misfired pots. The work also provided clear evidence of the movement of pottery production within a general site that spread across the area. Production is thought to have started in the western area of this site in the 12th—13th centuries, then moving a couple of small fields to the east in 13th—14th centuries and then staying put in the 15th—16th centuries. (It is noted that a small quantity of Roman brick and tile remains were also found). Why there should be this slight movement over nearly four centuries is a little puzzling, but could be movement to new underlying clay sources.
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