220 The Neio Forest : its History and its Scenery. 



The Island Thorn potteries had been so thoroughly opened 

 by Mr. Bartlett, that I tliere made but little further explorations, 

 and must refer my readers to his account,* only here adding 

 that the ware scarcely differed, except in shape and patterns, 

 from that at Crockle. 



About a mile westward stands Pitt's Enclosure, where in 

 three different places rise low mounds, two of which, since 

 the publication of his account, have been opened by Mr. Bartlett, 

 but from which he only obtained fragments. 



The third, which I explored in 1862, was remarkable for 

 the number of kilns placed close together, separated from each 

 other only by mounds of the natural soil. In all, there were 

 five, ranged in a semicircle, and paved with irregular masses 

 of sandstone. They appear to have been used at the time at 

 which they were left for firing different sorts of ware. Close 

 to the westernmost kiln, we found only the necks of various 

 unguent bottles, whilst the easternmost oven seems to have 

 been employed in baking only a coarse red panchion, on which 

 a cover (operculum), with a slight knob for a handle, fitted. 

 Of these last we discovered an enormous quantity, apparently 

 flung away into a deep hole. 



Near the central kilns we found one or two new shapes and 

 patterns, but they were, I am sorry to say, very much broken, 

 the ware not being equal in strength or fineness to that at 

 Crockle. The most interesting discovery, however, were two 

 distinct heaps of white and fawn-coloured clay and red earth, 

 placed ready for mixing, and a third of the two worked together, 

 fit for the immediate use of the potter. 



Near to these works stretch, on a smaller scale, the same 



* Aixha'ologia, vol. xxxv. pp. 95, 96. 

 220 



