Building record 1160/0/63 - St. Thomas a Becket's Well

Well site reputedly connected with Becket, summoned to Northampton to appear before royal council 1164. Earlier well head replaced 1843 and enclosed by stone shelter of rectangular plan with pointed arch.

{1} Well site reputedly connected with Becket, summoned to Northampton to appear before royal council 1164. Earlier well head replaced 1843 and enclosed by stone shelter of rectangular plan with pointed arch. Stone slated roof with verges to gables. Included for historical interest.

{3} Situated in road running east from Derngate.

{4}{5}{6}{7} St Thomas's well is situated to the east of Derngate.

{9} Trench cut behind the well revealed a drystone trough; possibly a settling tank.

{10} Trench excavated behind well revealed drystone-lined trough, possibly a settling tank. Fine brown layers of silt were visible at the bottom of the tank. Another trench dug immediately behind the well revealed a brick dome which may have covered the continuation of the trench. Appears to include original site notes, sketch plans and sections.

{11} Photo dated August 1993;

{12} The open-fronted stone building with pitched slate roof is the result of rebuilding in 1845 by Edward Harrison Barwell, Northampton ironfounder, celebrating his final year as Mayor of Northampton.

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 6/10 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> 1976, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), H14 p.25 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN1000.

<3> Speed J., 1610, Map of Northamptonshire, (checked) (Map). SNN559.

<4> Noble; Butlin, 1746, Town Map, (checked) (Map). SNN430.

<5> Roper; Cole, 1807, Map of The Town of Northampton, (checked) (Map). SNN621.

<6> Wood; Law, 1847, Town Map of Northampton, (checked) (Map). SNN752.

<7> Ordnance Survey, 1880s, First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 Inch Mapping Series (45.09), (unchecked) (Map). SNN106108.

<8> Moore W.R.G.; Giggins B.L., Uncertain, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN55084.

<9> Shaw M.; Williams J., 1971-1981, Northampton Development Corporation SMR Record Cards, PM230 (checked) (Index). SNN133.

<10> Williams J.H.; Shaw M.; Hardy S., 1978-1984, Northampton Development Corporation SMR Secondary Record Sheets, PM230 (checked) (Catalogue). SNN108.

<11> Photographs of buildings in Northampton (Photographs). SNN114989.

<12> Perkins, P, Whittaker, R and Denton, A, 2022, A Guide to the Industrial Heritage of Northamptonshire, p. 67/ Site 294 (Book). SNN113793.

<13> Northampton Development Corporation Archaeology Unit, 1982, Becket's Well, 1982 (Archive). SNN116745.

Record last edited

Feb 13 2025 2:58PM