ROOF TILE

An incomplete Medieval ceramic unglazed crested ridge roof tile dating to the 13th century. This is a Poole Group A Type 1c tile. The tile would have covered the ridge line of the roof of a high-status building. The tile is semi-circular in section with four triangular knife cut crests running along the apex of the tile.

Dimensions: length: 190mm; width: 100.20mm; thickness: 17mm; weight: 881g.

Another crested ridge roof tile on the database is IOW-88F5C8.

Poole (2010:11) writes "A range of different crest forms were identified and were divided into twelve types (figs.4-16). These can be broadly grouped into hand made (Group D: types 4 moulded and 12 thumb-pressed), cut triangular (Group A: types 1, 2, 3 truncated triangle, 8 asymmetric triangle), pyramidal (Group C: type 11) and applied strip with knife stabbing (Group B: types 5 scalloped with aperture, 6 triangular with aperture, 7 individual triangles, 9 solid strip).

Some of the forms have identical or close parallels from previous excavations in Southampton: triangular varieties equivalent to type 1 are common (Platt and Coleman-Smith 1975 fig 216. 1416 fig. 217 nos 1429, 1432, 1433). There was one example comparable to type 1b with the base of the crest pierced by a small perforation from High Street, Southampton (Platt and Coleman-Smith 1975 fig. 216 no. 1422) and examples have also been found in Winchester (Poole and Shaffrey, ibid). The most conspicuous are those equivalent to type 5, 6 and 9 (Platt and Coleman-Smith 1975 fig. 214 no. 1407, 1408, 1409).

Ridge tiles with knife cut triangular crests are the more usual form and they exhibit considerable variation in size. They have been found at Winchester (Poole and Shaffrey ibid) and were in use at Portchester Castle from the early 13th century through to the post-medieval period. Tiles of this sort were being produced at the Laverstock kilns, though only one of exactly the same height was identified. However, there was limited evidence at Laverstock of 'loop-handled' crest probably equivalent to the type 5 crests. However, since this type is not common outside of Southampton it is more likely to reflect influence from Southampton reaching Laverstock through merchants trading between Southampton and the West country via Salisbury (VCH Wilts vi, 126).

The largest number of crested ridge tiles occur in the high medieval phase reflecting their predominance in the 13th to 14th century. A small number (with crest types 1, 5 and 6) found in Anglo-Norman contexts suggests production commenced in the early 13th century. There is a decrease in the late and post- medieval periods, indicating crested ridge tiles continued in use, but it is unclear whether this form of tile was still being produced. An unglazed example with small pyramidal spurs (type11) and a type 1 with incised lines radiating from the spur crest, both from the post-medieval phase of tenement 237 may be late forms. The numbers of any particular crest type are too few to ascertain whether certain varieties were produced at a particular period."

References: Poole, C. 2010. Ceramic Building Material in Brown, R, Trade and Prosperity - Poverty and War Excavations and Historical Research in Southampton's French Quarter, Southampton, Hampshire.

Poole, C. and Shaffrey R. 2010. Winchester A City in the Making - Archaeological Excavations between 2002-2007 on sites of Northgate House, Staple Gardens and the former Winchester Library, Jewry St. The Ceramic and Stone Building Material.

McComish J.M. 2015. A Guide to Ceramic Building Materials. York Archaeological Trust.