A Pottery Production Site at Samlesbury, Near Preston, Lancashire

Excavation along a gas pipeline route through central Lancashire has revealed a previously unknown pottery production site of 13th to 15th century date. The site, which lies south of the river Ribble, comprised oval gullies, representing possible truncated clamp kiln bases, together with associated ditches and pits and over 10,000 sherds of pottery. Three distinct areas produced evidence of pottery production, over a distance of nearly half a kilometre and suggesting a widespread industry. Most of the recovered pottery was utilitarian, but examples of this material have been recognised in Wigan and Lancaster, while parallels are seen in an area stretching from Lancashire to north Wales. Excavated kilns and associated pottery assemblages are rare both in Lancashire and north