Nene Valley Colour Coated Ware

Nene Valley Colour Coated Ware (or Castor Ware[1]) is a type of Romano-British ceramic produced in the lower Nene Valley centred on Durobrivae (Water Newton)[2] from the mid-2nd to 4th centuries AD.

[3] Pottery manufacture locally started in the mid first century AD, with workshops associated with the Roman fort at Longthorpe, Peterborough[1][4] with an expansion for several miles along the Nene valley between Wansford and Peterborough in the second century.

[9] The NVCC ceramic is a hard, smooth-textured fabric with finely irregular fracture.

The slip has a variable colour, dark brown to black, mottled lighter orange or orange-brown where thinner.

[2] Hunt scenes in barbotine decoration are well known from the earlier part of the industry, with the use of whorls instead of these beginning in the 3rd century AD.

Decorated Nene Valley Roman Pottery, Wisbech Museum
Nene Valley Colour Coated Ware graffito sherd showing fabric colour and inclusions.