History of Crambeck and its Area

The area containing the remains of Roman pottery kilns at Crambeck is a scheduled National Monument.   The site lies on a slope bounded to the east by the steep river cliff of the River Derwent and to the west by the A64.   It includes the fields, paddocks and tennis court area.   At the south west corner, extensive quarrying has taken place during which some of the remains have been removed.

The identification of a major Roman site was first made in the mid-19th century when large amounts of Roman pottery were found and six pottery kilns were revealed during the construction of the Crambeck reform school.   Subsequent investigations have revealed a complex pattern of small enclosures separated by boundary ditches within which the remains of kilns survive.   At least seven surviving kilns have been identified within the area of the Monument.   In addition, the complex included clay dumps, fuel stores, drying areas, stores, workshops and possibly accommodation for the workforce.   The ditches which extend right across the Monument have been dated to the second century AD and are interpreted as part of an early Roman field system which were later used as enclosure boundaries for the potteries.

In addition to the potting activities it has been suggested that iron smelting may also have taken place and at one location on the Monument, fragments of iron slag have been found.

The potteries at Crambeck lie at the centre of a wider pottery production area as shown by further kiln sites which have been excavated at Crambe to the south and Norton to the north-east.

The Crambeck industry started production towards the very end of the third century AD and soon started to supply areas of north-east England.   The principal market for Crambeck products appears to have been in north-east Yorkshire and centred on the town of Malton just to the north.   The location of the production centre was determined by the availability of suitable Oxford clay outcrops and the proximity of water transport on the River Derwent.   Once established, in the late fourth and early fifth centuries, Crambeck suddenly became a major supplier throughout the north west and north east of England.   The industry maintained this dominant position until the end of the Roman period when it rapidly fell into decline.

The predominant production was of tableware, especially bowls, mixing bowls known as mortaria and dishes which are to be found at both civilian and military sites throughout the north of England.

Roman pottery making sites in Britain provide important information about the technology of pottery manufacture and its development.   They are rare nationally and all examples which are known to survive in good condition and still retain most of their components are considered to be of national importance.    The Roman pottery at Crambeck survives well and significant information about the original form and technology of the kilns will be preserved through its scheduling as a National Monument.