Monument record 1160/6/3 - Precinct Wall, St Andrews Priory

Speed's map of 1610 indicates that the precinct of St Andrew's Priory was encompassed by the medieval town walls along St George's Street, Mill Lane and St Andrew's Street. However, the map depicts a continuous wall around the remainder of the precinct, along Grafton Street, Lower Harding Street and Spring Lane. A stone wall observed on the north side of Grafton Street may be the south precinct wall of St Andrew's Priory

{1} Stone wall c.1.2m wide was observed beneath the pavement on north side of & parallel to Grafton Street; presumed to be the south precinct wall of St Andrew's Priory;

{2} From map dated 1632 of lands of St Andrew's Priory boundaries defined as follows: priory wall ran along St George's St & along Grafton St to Grafton Sq & along Lower Harding St & Spring Lane & St Andrew's Rd as far as mill; from there eastwards back to St George St;

{3} Map shows walls enclosing priory; partly formed by medieval town defences;

{4} Dispute with townspeople over priory boundaries; encroached upon king's highway by west gate of town & enclosed spring called 'Nonnewoll' with piece of land adjoining; also appropriated for themselves under the wall of the town all the homes of the townspeople between that of Giles and the water & also enclosed a common way under the wall of the town; priory surrendered to Dr.Layton in 1538; Layton reported that it was greatly in debt & the walls were ruinous;

{5} Shows priory surrounded by walls;

{6} To the left on St George's Street the road runs along what was formerly the boundary of the abbey;

{7} Description of location of priory boundary;

{8} Trial trenching for the west defences of Northampton located a ditch running north-south c8m wide, excavated to a depth of 1.3m. Early medieval pottery was recovered from the ditch which may be an early town defence ditch, a precinct ditch for St Andrews priory, or even a water channel connected with the monastic fishponds.

<1> SHAW M., 1988, Grafton Street, Northampton 1987, (unchecked) (SMR Report Form). SNN49510.

<2> SERJEANTSON R.M., 1905, Journal of Northants Natural History Society and Field Club, p.79-92+131+137-8 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN433.

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

<4> Serjeantson R.M.; Ryland W. (Editors), 1906, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.103+108 (checked) (Series). SNN100369.

<5> Pierce M., 1632, A true plot and description of al the Ancient Demesne Lands belonginge to the Priorye of St Andrew's in 1632, (unchecked) (Map). SNN365.

<6> Wetton, 1849, Guidebook to Northampton and its Vicinity, p.43 (checked) (Book). SNN1032.

<7> 1853, The Journal of The British Archaeological Association (Vol.8), p.67 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN874.

<8> Brown A.E. (ed.), 1980, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1979, p.172 (checked) (Article). SNN56490.

Record last edited

Feb 6 2026 10:57AM