Name: St Augustine's Conduit House
Rating: 5.0

St Augustine's Conduit House

King's Park, Canterbury, Kent CT1 1QH, UK

1-99 Years

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Description

St Augustine's Conduit House on a steep hillside in Canterbury, the Conduit House was part of the monastic waterworks that supplied nearby St Augustine's Abbey. Built in the mid-12th century, it once housed an octagonal tank from which water flowed to the abbey via a lead pipe.

A reliable supply of fresh water was an essential element of the infrastructure of a monastic community. The location of rivers and streams was often a significant factor in deciding the precise site of monastic houses, but within a town local supplies might be polluted.

Free Entry. If you are looking for Best place for day out with kids and families then this is the perfect destination offering fun, adventure, and unforgettable memories for everyone.

Features

Free
Host birthday parties: No

Features

History of St Augustine’s Conduit House: The remains of this medieval conduit house stand in King’s Park, Canterbury, on a steep west-facing hillside to the east of St Augustine’s Abbey, whose spring water supply it was built to protect.
A reliable supply of fresh water was an essential element of the infrastructure of a monastic community. The location of rivers and streams was often a significant factor in deciding the precise site of monastic houses, but within a town local supplies might be polluted.
In such cases clean water had to be piped in from a spring. The water flowed through pipes that were made of lead or hollowed-out tree trunks.
Arrangements such as this were well known in the medieval period. Sources of water on a higher level than the monastery were tapped and small buildings were constructed to cover the collecting and settling tanks at the spring.
Description: The conduit house at St Augustine’s Abbey dates from the mid-12th century. A roughly octagonal masonry tank is now divided by an 18th century chalk and brick wall.
Four tunnelled openings and three smaller ducts, which collect water from springs, lead into the tank. Water was delivered from here to the abbey by a lead pipe 75cm (3 inches) in diameter running from the western side of the structure. The pipe may have led to a water tower at the abbey, which would have fed smaller tanks in the kitchen, infirmary and other parts of the monastic complex.
The walls of the tank, which survive to a height of approximately 3 metres (10 feet), are built of flint and chalk blocks on chalk block foundations. The internal wall faces are of coursed flint and were originally rendered. The bed of the tank is of natural earth, with a high clay content.
In the 18th century, when the holding tank was divided, a new roof was constructed, consisting of two shallow barrel vaults. This may have been the work of Sir John Hales, who, in 1773, allowed Canterbury the use of the reservoir which he then owned to supplement its water supply. In February 1988 the roof of the conduit house collapsed, though the tank and access tunnels can still be seen.

Facilities

Parking: Parking is available at Longport Pay and Display Car Park, or use Canterbury's Park & Ride service.
Dogs: Dogs on leads are welcome.

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Price

Price: Free

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

Open any reasonable time during daylight hours.

Address: King's Park, Canterbury, Kent CT1 1QH, UK

Post Code: CT1 1QH

Council: Canterbury

County: Kent

Road Access: In King’s Park. Approx. 5-10 min walk from St Augustine’s Abbey. Please call or ask at the abbey for directions.
Bus Access: Bus: Stagecoach 13, 13A, 14 or Regent Coaches 649 from George Street City Centre to Canterbury Christ Church University then 10-15 min walk from the Abbey.
Train Access: Canterbury East or West, both 3⁄4 mile.
Bicycle Access: Find this site on The National Cycle Network.
Parking: Parking is available at Longport Pay and Display Car Park, or use Canterbury's Park & Ride service.