Franciscan friary in Southampton
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The Franciscan Friary of Southampton
was founded circa 1233. It occupied a south-eastern area of the city, within the walls and adjacent to God's House Tower. The friary was notable for its water supply system, which supplied water for use by the friars themselves and by the other inhabitants of Southampton. The friary was dissolved in 1538 and the last remains were swept away in the 1940s. The site is now occupied by Friary House. Elsewhere, remnants of the extensive water supply system still survive today.
, out to the north west of the medieval town. The friars constructed a system of water pipes to bring the first of the water to their friary in 1304. In all, the water had to travel some 1.7 kilometres from the spring to the friary within the town walls. There were several other springs supplying water to the friary; these were located in the The Polygon, Southampton
area, but no traces remain above ground.
In 1310, the friars granted use of their water supply to the people of Southampton. In 1420, the friars were struggling to maintain the water supply system in good order, and therefore passed on ownership of the supply system to the mayor and community of Southampton. The water supply system remained in their hands for the rest of its lifetime. It was eventually superseded by the boring of new wells for use by the townspeople.
Elsewhere, more visible remnants can be seen at Conduit House on Commercial Road. The purpose of this stone building remains uncertain.
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
was founded circa 1233. It occupied a south-eastern area of the city, within the walls and adjacent to God's House Tower. The friary was notable for its water supply system, which supplied water for use by the friars themselves and by the other inhabitants of Southampton. The friary was dissolved in 1538 and the last remains were swept away in the 1940s. The site is now occupied by Friary House. Elsewhere, remnants of the extensive water supply system still survive today.
The water supply system
The water supply system was originally devised by the friars for their own use. In 1290, Nicholas de Barbeflet granted them access to the springs on his manor of Shirley, SouthamptonShirley, Southampton
Shirley is a district on the Western side of Southampton, England. Shirley's main roles are retailing and residential. It is the most important suburban shopping area in the west of the city. Housing is a mixture of council houses in the centre of the district surrounded by private housing, with...
, out to the north west of the medieval town. The friars constructed a system of water pipes to bring the first of the water to their friary in 1304. In all, the water had to travel some 1.7 kilometres from the spring to the friary within the town walls. There were several other springs supplying water to the friary; these were located in the The Polygon, Southampton
The Polygon, Southampton
The Polygon is an area in the city of Southampton, England.The area is located just to the north of the railway station and Commercial Road...
area, but no traces remain above ground.
In 1310, the friars granted use of their water supply to the people of Southampton. In 1420, the friars were struggling to maintain the water supply system in good order, and therefore passed on ownership of the supply system to the mayor and community of Southampton. The water supply system remained in their hands for the rest of its lifetime. It was eventually superseded by the boring of new wells for use by the townspeople.
Visible remains
Although long since disused, remnants of the water supply system can be seen today, albeit outside of the town walls. At the site of the former manor in Shirley, the original water source is marked by Conduit Head, a stone building comprising a small locked gateway and several underground chambers which channeled fresh water rising from the springs. Though in disrepair and hidden away behind new housing developments, the site can still be accessed from a path leading from the Sandhurst Road allotments.Elsewhere, more visible remnants can be seen at Conduit House on Commercial Road. The purpose of this stone building remains uncertain.