Monument record MDO874 - Roman settlement and cemetery at Putton Brickyards, Chickerell

Occupation debris in the form of 1st and 2nd century Samian ware, coarse pottery, including a 3rd century sherd and a small grotesque human face in Kimmeridge shale. Over twenty burials have been reported at intervals. Of two burials found in 1924, one was accompanied by a coarse ware bowl of possible third century date.

(Area centred SY 65008004) IA 'C', coarse RB and Samian pottery (one piece of Samian datable to 50-80AD) found Sept. 1930, in PUTTON LANE BRICKFIELD. Workmen stated many skeletons also found with pots at their feet. <1> a DREW INDEX (Col Drew's personal knowledge)

(SY 64987994) R.B. sites pottery and graves 1930. <2>

Two burials with RB sherds at CHICKERELL (Probably applies) <3>

RB skeleton and "food bowl" found in Putton Brickyard presented to the DORSET COUNTY MUSEUM. <4>

In 1928 in a brick pit at CHICKERELL sherds of BELGIC and Roman - including SAMIAN - were found and given to the DORSET COUNTY MUSEUM. <5> b jrs 14 1924 235

(SY 64898005) Two skeletons and pottery found c. 1930 together with pottery and sent to the DORSET CO. MUSEUM. Found by the late Mr Randall whilst excavating for clay. No other finds are known of.

The approximate site referred to in <6.1> was pointed out on the ground by Mr. Randall. It lies at the base of an old surface working. A few small sherds of coarse pottery were found but too small to positively identify though probably IA or RB. The siting contained in Auth 2 is in an old surface working and now overgrown. No information, other than in <6.1> could be obtained, regarding finds in this brickyard, during field investigation. A shale sculptured face from Putton Brickworks was seen in the DORSET CO. MUSEUM. <6>

PUTTON BRICKYARDS (SY 68 SW). Occupation Debris and Inhumation Burials have been found in the brickfields on Oxford Clay (649800). Of two burials found in 1924, presumably extended, one had a coarse ware bowl (D.C.M. 1907.3.9) perhaps of the 3rd century; 20 other skeletons were said to have been found in ploughing previously. Occupation debris was 1st and 2nd-century samian ware, coarse pottery including a 3rd-century sherd, and a small grotesque human face in Kimmeridge shale (1933.18.1). A burial (64838000) in a stone cist aligned N.-S. was destroyed in 1963, and three more in 1965, apparently in plain graves similarly orientated, with heads to N., one of them at 64828001. (Dorset Procs. XLVI (1925), xlvi, lxix; LVI (1934)M 15; KXXXV (1963)M 100-1; LXXXVII (1965)M 115-8; J.R.S. XIV (1924)M 235L XXU(1931, 241; Bath Herald, 13 Sept. 1924.) <9>

Human bone and Roman pottery have been observed at Putton Brickyards quarry. Four or five inhumation burials were observed in 1975 and another in 1976. <10>

<1> Rivet, A L F, Annotated record map 6", 20.5.53 (Map). SDO17443.

<2> Annotated Record Map 6 (Dorset County Museum) (Map). SWX2545.

<3> Goldesbrough, P, Rec. 6 inch P Goldesbrough (Map). SWX1764.

<4> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1925, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Field Club for 1924-1925, LXIX, LXVI (Serial). SDO30.

<5> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1935, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1934, 15 (Serial). SDO37.

<6> Swatridge, G C, Various, Field Investigators Comments GCS, F1 GCS 10-AUG-54 (Unpublished document). SWX1169.

<6.1> Randall, H J, 1954, Oral: H J Randall 10.8.54 Employee Putton Brickyard (Verbal communication). SDO18063.

<7> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1964, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1963, 100-101 (Serial). SDO63.

<8> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1966, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1965, 115-118 (Serial). SDO65.

<9> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 3, 595 (Monograph). SDO150.

'(34) Putton Brickyards (SY 68 SW). Occupation Debris and Inhumation Burials have been found in the brickfields on Oxford Clay (649800). Of two burials found in 1924, presumably extended, one had a coarse ware bowl (D.C.M. 1970.3.9) perhaps of the 3rd century;1 20 other skeletons were said to have been found in ploughing previously. Occupation debris was 1st and 2nd century samian ware, coarse pottery including a 3rd-century sherd, and a small grotesque human face in Kimmeridge shale (1933.18.1). A burial (64838000) in a stone cist aligned N.-S. was destroyed in 1963, and three more in 1965, apparently in plain graves similarly orientated, with heads to N., one of them at 64828001. (Dorset Procs. XLVI (1925), xlvi, LVI (1934), 15; LXXXV (1963), 100-1; LXXXVII (1965), 115-8; J.R.S. XIV (1924), 235; XXI (1931), 241; Bath Herald, 13 Sept. 1924.).'

<10> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1980, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1978, 112 (Serial). SDO78.

'CHICKERELL (SY 647799). F. A. Winnall reports the discovery of Roman pottery and human bone in Putton Brickyards quarry. Four or five inhumation burials observed in 1973, and another burial in 1976 are perhaps part of the group of burials recorded in RCHM (E), Dorset, II, part 3 (1970), 595a.'

<11> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1987, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1986, 177 (Serial). SDO86.

<12> National Record of the Historic Environment, 452794 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jun 27 2022 11:01AM