More British Samian Ware by the Aldgate-Pulborough Potter

Abstract

Recent work on the samian ware from a settlement site at Wiggonholt, Sussex, has revealed fragments from a number of vessels by one of the few potters to attempt the production of samian in Roman Britain. This man was called the ‘Aldgate Potter’ by Dr. Grace Simpson on the basis of a waster from the Aldgate, London, now in the British Museum. However, Dr. Simpson also illustrates mould-fragments belonging to this potter from Pulborough, Sussex, only about one mile from the find-spot of the Wiggonholt fragments which are the subject of this article. As neither waster nor moulds seem likely to have travelled far from the kiln site, it is not at present possible to be certain whether the centre of this potter's production should be sought in London or Sussex, or whether perhaps he operated in both places at different times. However, the Wiggonholt material shifts the geographical balance of known find-spots of the work of this man strongly in favour of Sussex and, in view of this, it seems reasonable to give the Sussex mould-fragments equal significance with the Aldgate waster. The potter is, therefore, called here the ‘Aldgate-Pulborough Potter’.