Monument record 1160/6/2 - St Andrews Priory: Fishponds

A series of fishponds are depicted on a 17th-century map within the priory precinct. A watching brief undertaken in 1980 during the redevelopment of the area possibly found one of them

{1} Monastic fishponds can be seen in the area of Monks Pond Street from C17th maps; evidence of ditches or water channels & possibly a monastic fishpond was seen by observation in 1979; Ditch located running north-south circa 8m wide & 1.3m deep; early medieval pottery recovered; interpreted as possible early town defence or a precinct boundary ditch or a water channel for monastic fish ponds;

{2} Fishponds of St Andrew's Priory shown in area of Monks Pond Street; at least 1 large fishpond with 3 smaller stews to the south;

{3} Priory of St Andrew's encroached on the King's highway by west gate of town & had a spring called 'Nonnewell' with piece of land adjoining; this possibly fed the monastic fishponds close-by;

{4} Present brick field had been the site of the vivarium;

{5} The fishpond attached to the priory is given on the plan; it was supplied by an excellent spring which has given name to the street;

{6} Evidence of ditches or water channels and possibly one of the monastic fishponds was seen at SP 749609.

{7} Evidence of ditches or water channels and possibly one of the monastic fishponds was seen at SP749609.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1985, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.338/Site 12 (checked) (Series). SNN77383.

<2> 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.

<3> Serjeantson R.M.; Ryland W. (Editors), 1906, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.103 (checked) (Series). SNN100369.

<4> Wetton, 1849, Guidebook to Northampton and its Vicinity, p.43 (checked) (Book). SNN1032.

<5> 1853, Journal of The British Archaeological Association (Vol.8), p.67 (unchecked) (Note). SNN876.

<6> Williams J.H.; Shaw M., 1981, South Midlands Archaeology: CBA Group 9 Newsletter, p.32 (unchecked) (Interim Note). SNN4410.

<7> Brown A.E. (ed.), 1981, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1980, p.204 (unchecked) (Article). SNN100418.

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

Record last edited

Jan 29 2020 2:11PM