Billingsgate Pottery
by Chris St. John Breen
In April, 1984, it was drawn to the writer's attention that "fly tipping" of Billingsgate, London, material occurred at a number of locales including Dartford Heath, Kent and Dagenham, Essex. The writer has led a small team of D.D.A.G. members on more than 50 trips to collect finds of all classes. These have been washed, sorted and listed by the writer and, to date, an 'RB' team led by Beth Richardson and a medieval team led by Dr. Alan Vince, both from the Department of Urban Archaeology, have visited D.D.A.G. research centre at Lowfield Street to identify fabrics. Also Christine Jones of the Museum of London has visited D.D.A.G. and compiled a catalogue of the Roman glass. The wealth of the assemblage is expected considering the original context and the project continues. Currently the Samian ware sherd count exceeds 4,000, RB "coarse ware" rim/wall "open and closed" forms exceeds 2,300, whilst non-ceramic finds such as bone/horn includes dice, counters, 'fittings', pins and needles.
One interesting result, albeit provisional, coinciding with the writer's own part-time researches and, more important, with those of Jason Monaghan, is the recognition of Cliffe Peninsula RB bead rim bowl/dish rim/wall sherds forming the bulk of this vessel form from Billingsgate.
The primary importance of this 'Rescue' effort - to provide the D.U.A. and the London Museum with data - has been achieved and they in their turn provide us with a very large reference collection, indexed as to fabric type/source/vessel form/chronology. It will prove invaluable, in Kent ceramic studies, in helping to isolate and identify "imported" wares.
Can it be perhaps that we have here a "branch mini fabric bank" of a future "Kent fabric study group"? or can it be that I, a non-expert, processed some 14,000 sherds via my home, to provide the D.D.A.G. membership alone with comparative material to assist the group's post excavation work?
Ed: Letters or comment on this subject are invited for the Newsletter.