Conduit Head At Priory Farm 450 Metres To North East Of The Priory At Ngr Tl 2222 2827

WYMONDLEY PRIORY LANE TL 22 NW (East side) Little Wymondley

4/155 Conduit Head at Priory Farm II 450M to NE of The Priory at NGR.TL 2222 2827

Conduit head. Medieval origin as water supply for Wymondley Priory, reconstructed C16 or early C17 by Nedham family after the Dissolution, rebuilt incorporating old work c.1902 by East Herts Archaeological Society. Flint rubble with uncoursed flint and pebble facing. C16 thin red brick in English-bond with wide joints up to springing of entrance arch on E end, moulded stone doorway, upper parts of walls in C19 plum red brick in English-bond. Unroofed. Tile floor recorded by VCH (1912, 189). A small rectangular building in a grove of ash trees. Plan in VCH shows a shallow basin inside with rounded end to E. Facing E there is a central clunch doorway, 3-centred arch in 2 orders, imposts, and stone jambs. Corbelled brick course projects over to protect head. Interior has low side walls and remains of W gable. Entrance has segmental rear arch and splayed jambs, and a round headed niche to each side. Remains of central W window with flanking niches, and triple recesses to each side-wall. The flow of water is said to have been formerly used to turn a spit in the farmhouse kitchen. The stone doorway is original but VCH suggests that the form of the rebuilding of c.1902 was based on another building elsewhere. Scheduled Ancient Monument, Herts No. 61c, described as 'well'. (RCHM (1911)149: VCH (1912)189).

Listing NGR: TL2222028270