Humber ware

Two of the best known production sites are at West Cowick^[2] and Holme-on-Spalding-Moor, with some additional evidence for one in or near York^[1] as well as a kiln at Kelk.^[3]

Humber wares are hard-fired, iron-rich usually red-bodied wares, although often with reduced cores.^[4] They are sparsely tempered with a fine sand, although there are examples of more gritty types.^[4]

Forms include jugs of various sizes, cooking pots and (in the later phases of the industry) urinals and bung-hole cisterns.^[5] Several Humber ware sherds have a white encrusted deposit on the interior surface, which has been found to derive from urine.^[5] The glaze is usually olive or brownish green, sometimes forming a brown margin at the edges of the glaze.^[3] Decoration is usually limited to bands of horizontal grooving on the shoulders or neck, with occasional patterns of wavy combing, rouletting, or stamping.^[2] One of the best known products of the Humber kilns are the small drinking jugs, which replaces wooden bowls used in earlier times.^[1]