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

The Conduit Head at Priory Farm, located 450 meters northeast of Wymondley Priory, has its origins in the medieval period as a water supply for the priory. It was reconstructed in the 16th century or early 17th century by the Nedham family after the Dissolution of the Monasteries and was rebuilt around 1902 by the East Herts Archaeological Society, incorporating some original materials. The structure is made of flint rubble with an uncoursed flint and pebble facing, and features 16th-century thin red brick in English bond with wide joints up to the springing of the entrance arch on the eastern end. The upper parts of the walls are constructed from 19th-century plum red brick in English bond. The building is unroofed and has a tile floor that was recorded by the Victoria County History in 1912.

It is a small rectangular building situated in a grove of ash trees. The plan shows a shallow basin inside with a rounded end to the east. On the eastern face, there is a central clunch doorway with a three-centred arch in two orders, complete with imposts and stone jambs. A corbelled brick course projects over the doorway to protect the head. The interior features low side walls and remnants of a west gable. The entrance has a segmental rear arch and splayed jambs, with a round-headed niche on each side. There are remains of a central west window with flanking niches and triple recesses on each side wall. Historically, the flow of water from this conduit is said to have been used to turn a spit in the farmhouse kitchen. The stone doorway is original, but the form of the rebuilding around 1902 was based on another building elsewhere. The Conduit Head is designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument, Herts No. 61c, and is described as a 'well' in historical records.