The former ballroom of Monk Fryston Hall now known as the Haddon Room was originally a Victorian extension to the medieval Manor House built by the last private occupiers the Rev. Benjamin and Mary Constance Hemsworth and this splendid room was the venue for the Pottery Drawing Day held for Finding Fryston Project volunteers and Time Team members in January 2017.
The training course was led by Ceramics Expert Anne Jenner of York Archaeological Trust (YAT) with assistance from Ken Shaw one of our dig volunteers.
The 15 course members learnt how to construct an accurate representation of a piece of pottery showing all its features both inside and out; starting with a complete vessel such as a jug and then in the afternoon they were shown how to ‘reconstruct’ an entire pot from just a few sherds such as the rim, the base and an imbetween piece. This will be particularly useful for the Finding Fryston Project as we have pieces ranging from the 11th to 20th century amongst our 8000 sherds!
The training course was led by Ceramics Expert Anne Jenner of York Archaeological Trust (YAT) with assistance from Ken Shaw one of our dig volunteers.
The 15 course members learnt how to construct an accurate representation of a piece of pottery showing all its features both inside and out; starting with a complete vessel such as a jug and then in the afternoon they were shown how to ‘reconstruct’ an entire pot from just a few sherds such as the rim, the base and an imbetween piece. This will be particularly useful for the Finding Fryston Project as we have pieces ranging from the 11th to 20th century amongst our 8000 sherds!
The course proved to be very enjoyable but challenging for just about everyone, even the most experienced artists such as Art Club Members Jean Dearn and Diana Arey. Just about everyone worked on pots from the many different periods discovered during the excavations in 2015 and 2016. Modern pieces such as the Hotel tea cup and Hornsea art deco were also tackled for good measure. For two course members Alison Mason and Phil Jones it marked another step from novice excavators to skilled recorders of the dig. They have now learned how to excavate, wash and sort finds, identify and categorise them, to reassemble sherds at the Pottery Jigsaw Days and now to draw them.
Roger Weatherill another experienced volunteer who has also taken part in the Pottery Finds Sorting and ID, the Jigsaw Pottery and Drawing days commented. “I have been on lots of digs but this is the first one where I have been able to handle the finds after they have been excavated. Normally they are whisked away into somebody's garage never to be seen again. I have learnt so much more by being able to handle them. Because I have had to handle them at every stage I have learnt that much more about the pottery when previously I would put it into a finds tray to be sent away for washing”.
Roger Weatherill another experienced volunteer who has also taken part in the Pottery Finds Sorting and ID, the Jigsaw Pottery and Drawing days commented. “I have been on lots of digs but this is the first one where I have been able to handle the finds after they have been excavated. Normally they are whisked away into somebody's garage never to be seen again. I have learnt so much more by being able to handle them. Because I have had to handle them at every stage I have learnt that much more about the pottery when previously I would put it into a finds tray to be sent away for washing”.
Sue Newton Project Finds Manager and Course organiser said “we were extremely fortunate to be able to stage the Pottery Drawing Day which Anne offered to lead after she visited our Pottery Jigsaw Day with volunteer Ken Shaw and then attended our Volunteers Project Review Day. We want to make use of these drawings to illustrate the pot sherds in the permanent exhibition of Finds we are planning to set up in Monk Fryston Hall Hotel as one of the legacies of the Finding Fryston Project” .
They are hoping now to take our newly learnt skills to the next level by preparing them for publication after adding ink and photographic images to make a complete archaeological record of our wonderful collection of pottery finds. Maybe a visit to YAT in Aldwark York is on the cards……
They are hoping now to take our newly learnt skills to the next level by preparing them for publication after adding ink and photographic images to make a complete archaeological record of our wonderful collection of pottery finds. Maybe a visit to YAT in Aldwark York is on the cards……
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