Before the Roman Conquest the British had manufactured their own earthenware vessels but also imported pottery such as the amphorae in which wine came, and Italian Arretine tableware. After the Conquest, much more pottery was imported, including shiny red Samian ware bowls and cups from Gaul. The presence of the Roman armies also stimulated production in local industries and new Roman styles of tableware influenced British wares.

Huge quantities of pottery were produced in Roman Britain and traded over great distances. In Hampshire, the New Forest pottery kilns, established soon after the middle of the 3rd century, spread over an area of 60 square kilometres. With one exception, they were all located east of the River Avon, at some distance from major roads, but in an area where there were good supplies of clay and sand.

Archaeology has shown that there was a standard type of New Forest kiln which were different to kilns found elsewhere in Britain. They were oval or circular with a short flue (chimney vent), pilasters (attached half-columns) and corbels (blocks supporting horizontal beams). The kilns produced colour-coated pottery, painted parchment wares, mortaria (thick-walled mixing bowls with a gritty interior which allowed food to be pounded or pureed), and grey kitchen wares.