So there I was out walking the dog on the St. Helier estate in Carshalton when I happened across a fox or badger hole. All sorts of bottles, jars, porcelain shards etc. were visible so had a poke with my foot and found two little jars. Can anyone date them or let me know what they were used for? The estate was built between the 20's and 30's so I assume they are circa that era. The state of preservation was amazing considering the relics were only a few inches from the surface. The jam jar had obviously been used as a paint pot as the paint was still vivid. There was a broken bottle with a colourful label and even pieces of leather! The whole site is contained within a hill about ten feet high but on council land so I should imagine any digging no matter how minimal would be frowned upon! Fascinating stuff even though not a Victorian site. When I looked on a map later, I realised the site was in the same road my mum lived in as a child during WW2. I shall give her the jars as a keepsake!

Terry surely your'e not that young !! ??   You have in your hand two shiphams paste pots  or very similar  !!

Yeah, thought they were just that Ross but how old? 30's or 50's? I'm trying to establish if the area was a dump before the estate was built or if it was a casual refuse tip used by the residents there. I'll have to ask my mum if she remembers it. Whether it was a dump before the 1930's or not, it surely is a dump now!!.....ooh, mustn't be mean now...!