Clerk'S Well And Chamber/Enclosure In Basement Of Number 16

ISLINGTON

TQ3182SW FARRINGDON LANE 635-1/73/388 (East side) 29/12/50 No.16 Clerk's Well and chamber/enclosure in basement of No. 16 (Formerly Listed as: FARRINGDON LANE (East side) 'Clerk's Well' and enclosure in basement of no. 16)

GV I

Well and chamber/enclosure with pump spout, located in left side of basement of No. 16 Farringdon Lane. c.1174, altered; pump spout, 1800. Brick and stone, with C20 cement steyning and low stone curb. Circular well situated in a rectangular enclosure of medieval ashlar repaired with C16 and C17 plumby-red brick work set in English bond. Paved stone floor. The north-east and northwest sides survive; the north-east wall probably formed part of the precinct wall of St. Mary's Priory. Well protected by wooden batten cover with strap hinges (date unknown). Set in wall above is iron plate with brief account of the well, and pump spout projecting from it. History: the well is mentioned by Fitzstephen (1174) and is described by Stow as 'curbed about square with hard stone' immediately west of the churchyard wall of Clerkenwell Church. The church and district took the name of the well, and the well took the name of the parish clerks who annually presented Passion plays there during the medieval period. The spring was provided with a pump in 1800. The plate is preserved in the well chamber. The well was closed in 1857 and rediscovered in 1924. It is now in the charge of Islington Borough Council.

Listing NGR: TQ3145282134