The Crockle Potteries. 217 



fields lay, whilst at one place five banks meet in a point, and 

 between two of them appear some slight traces of what may 

 have been a road.* 



At the bottom of the hill, but more to the south-westward, 

 stands the Lower Hat, where the same Qoarse ware covers the 

 earth, and where the presence of nettles and chickweed shows 

 that the place has once been inhabited. 



The Croclde and Island Thorn potteries lie about a mile to 

 the north-east. At Crockle, there were, before Mr. Bartlett opened 

 them, three mounds, varying in circumference from one hundred 

 and eighty to seventy yards, each, as I have ascertained, con- 

 taining at least three or four, but probably more, kilns. As 

 the lowest part of the smallest and easternmost mound had 

 not been entirely explored, I determined to open this piece. 



* The spot where these banks intersect each other is known as Sloden 

 Hole, and is well worthy of notice. The annexed plan will best show 



the character of the place. The 



.^^s"^^^^ -^-* largest bank is that which rnns 



^^-''^''~^S^lil£i?~ to the south-west, measuring four 



II ?,5 se^- -'* ** massiveness that it is a Rouian 



r • ti*^t«^ff»fc 7?ij>-i«ffr work. Upon diffginff, as shown in 



N.E.MfewB>BS|pK*«<i«-'a^^^ the plan, at the point of intcr«ec- 



/•- 4S#J ■ \ 



•^ , . . JSi* t'on, we found pieces of iron and 



■l|^\ iron slag, sandstone, charcoal, and 



II %^, Roman pottery similar to that 



N.w. V made in Crockle. Many of these 



banks run for long distances. That 



to the south-east reaches the top of Sloden Green, about half a mile off, 



whilst the north-east bank stretches for nearly a mile to Whiteshoot. There 



are, too, other banks scattered about Sloden, which, if examined, would 



doubtless yield similar results, but none are so well defined as these. The 



largest bank which I know in the district stretches from Pitt's Enclosure, 



in a south-easterly direction across Anderwood, and so through the southern 



parts of Sloden. 



F F 217 



