Monument record 1160/0/241 - Well head, Victoria Promenade

A 'mystery' door on the north side of Victoria Promenade was recorded during the Defence of Britain Survey. Subsequently identified as a well head for Phipps Brewery dug in 1934.

{1} Door on Victoria Promenade: unusually wide with vents at the top and bottom protected by a grille. There is an unusual rotary latch in a shallow recess below a yale lock. A power cable in a conduit runs up the left side of the door and through the frame at the top. At the rear a heavy concrete roof descends into the ground at 45 degrees.

{3, 4} Recollection that author's grandfather was an engineer at Phipps Northampton Brewery Company and 'one of his jobs was periodic servicing of the pump here. It is the head of a well which feeds water to the brewery- water from this aquifer is not suitable for actual brewing.'

<1> Armishaw, A., 2005, Letter, (unchecked) (Letter). SNN107582.

<2> Armishaw, A., 2005, Structure on Victoria Promenade, Northampton, (checked) (Photographic prints (COL)). SNN107583.

<3> Vaughan, R, NBC Borehole Record Victoria Promenade 1934 (Note). SNN116936.

<4> Northamptonshire HER, Unknown, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments, Email from Robert Vaughan 27/10/2025 (Oral Report). SNN115011.

Record last edited

Oct 30 2025 9:35AM