The New Forest : its History and its Scenery. 



Such is a brief account of the potteries in the Forest. Their 

 extent was, with two exceptions, restricted to one district, where 

 the Lower Bagshot Sands, with their clays, crop out, and to the 

 very same bed which the potters at Alderholt, on the other side 

 of the Avon, still at this hour work. 



The two exceptions at Oakley and Anderwood are situated 

 just at the junction of the Upper Bagshot Sands and the Barton 

 Clays, which did not suit so well, and where the potteries are 

 very much smaller, and the ware coarser and grittier. 



The date of the Crockle potteries may be roughly guessed by 

 the coins, found there by Mr. Bartlett, of Victorinus.* These 

 were much worn, and, as Mr. Akerman suggests, might be lost 

 about the end of the third century ; but the potteries were 

 probably worked till or even after the Eomans abandoned the 

 island. 



There is nothing to indicate any sudden removal, but, on the 

 contrary, everything shows that the works were by degrees 

 stopped, and the population gradually withdrew. None of the 

 vessels are quite perfect, but are what are technically known as 

 " wasters." The most complete have some slight flaw, and are 

 evidently the refuse, which the potter did not think fit for the 

 market. 



The size of the works need excite no surprise, when we 



Avas sufficient to show its occupation during the Roman period, and to 

 dispel the illusion that it was ever the site of a church. On the north-east 

 side of the wood are the remains of a fine Roman camp, the agger and 

 rallum being in one place nearly complete. 



* I may add that Mr. Drayson also possesses coins of Victorinus, and 

 Claudius Gothicus, found in various parts of the Forest, the last in one 

 of the " thumb-pots," with 1700 others, perhaps, indicating the period when 

 the Crockle and Island Thorn Potteries were in their most flourishing 

 condition. 



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