Unearthing Post-Tudor Clay Pipes Found on the Mary Rose

From the 16^th Century to the early 19^th Century these clay pipes were cheap and disposable ways of smoking tobacco. The layer of silts and sediments that they were recovered from during the excavations reflected the period they were made – so the deeper the excavations went, the older the material tended to be.

Many of the pipes found on the Mary Rose wreck site were produced locally, in Portsmouth, as early as the 1620s. However, others can be traced to various locations across Europe. It is interesting that such a large number of pipes were found during the excavation.  This reflects the amount of cultural trade within Portsmouth as well as highlighting local artisanal talent.

This clay pipe contains just the ‘bowl’ of the pipe, where the tobacco would have been placed. The pipe is decorated with a dog on one side and another animal, in too poor condition to identify, on the other. However, it is believed to be a ferret or something similar. The pipe also appears to have the words “BIRCHALL” and “CHATHAM” inscribed on it. This tells us that the pipe maker had the last name Birchall and that the pipe was made in Chatham, Kent.

This Georgian clay pipe, excavated from the Mary Rose site in 1979, features the bowl and part of the stem and is a blue-grey colour. The bowl is decorated with the Royal Coat of Arms, with a crowned lion and unicorn on either side. It is dated to 1714-1801, based on the Royal Coat of Arms being the Hanoverian version from the rule of George I, Elector of Hanover. Below the arms is a scroll which states ‘DIEU ET MON DROIT’ (which means “God and my right” – the motto of the British monarch).

This heavily decorated clay pipe bowl, dated to 1750, depicts William IV, Prince of Orange, and Princess Caroline. It includes inscriptions in both French and Dutch in a scroll crossing its surface, along with additional embellishments, including a Royal Coat of Arms (1714-1801), a crown, a shield, and decorative flora. The imagery and inscriptions suggest Dutch manufacture or influence, which is supported by similar “Oranje Pipes” originating in the Netherlands. These pipes were produced in large numbers for royal commemorations and for occasions celebrating the House of Orange. This unique find is an example among many others that show how the Solent was a hub for international exchange and movement.

This clay pipe was manufactured in Fareham (1752-1816) by the pipe maker Arthur Coster. The decoration of the pipe features the Prince of Wales’s Coat of Arms, identified by a trio of ostrich feathers. This popular design was used commemoratively to display loyalty to the Prince. However, they have also been associated with approximately 80 “Prince of Wales”- pubs. In addition to regal imagery, the pipe features floral engravings on its front.

Similarly, produced by Arthur Coster (1752-1816), this clay pipe features a typical ribbed decoration with his initials A.C. clearly visible on the bottom point (spur). The outside was also a beautiful blue-grey colour. Given its shape and size, along with its manufacturer, it was likely produced between 1770 and 1816, providing a rare example, during a period of overall production decline.