Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Medieval conduit house related to St Augustine's Abbey.

Monument Types

• CONDUIT HOUSE (Roof collapsed in 1988, Medieval to Modern - 1200 AD? to 2050 AD)

Full description

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From the National Heritage List for England:

The monument includes a medieval conduit house, situated on a steep west-facing natural hillside to the east of Canterbury.

The Conduit house, part of the original water supply for the abbey of St Augustine, comprises a roughly octagonal masonry collecting and settling tank, divided by an 18th century chalk block and brick wall and now entered by a later doorway on the west side. Into the tank lead four tunnelled openings and three smaller ducts which collect water from springs which issue from the aquifer. Water was delivered to the abbey by means of a three inch diameter lead pipe running out from the downslope (western) side of the structure. The tank measures a maximum of 7m (north east-south west) by 4.75m internally. The walls, which survive to a height of approximately 3m, are built of flint and chalk block on substantial chalk block foundations. Their well-dressed external faces indicate that they were built free standing while the internal wall faces were of coursed flint and were originally rendered. The bed of the reservoir is of natural brickearth.

The four tunnels which lead into the tank are fed by a number of subsidiary ducts and have openings approximately 1.3m high and 1m wide. Each opening is dressed with lower greensand quoins, with larger blocks set at the point of springing for the arches. The tunnels have original fabric surviving to spring level above which each has a covering barrel vaulted roof of later flintwork. Each tunnel is blocked with brickwork some way back from its opening, beyond which lie circular dome topped brick chambers.

The conduit house dates from the mid -12th century. and appears to post-date and lie on the south east edge of a large artificial catchment pond recorded in recent construction work. The pond has been largely destroyed and is not included within the scheduling.

The reservoir of the conduit house was probably divided in the 18th century at the time a new covering of two irregular shallow barrel vaults, resting on the dividing wall This was then covered with a thick slab of mortared brick, chalk and flint. Other repairs to the structure were carried out at this time together with the addition of two ducts and the construction of a brick filter tank. This phase of refurbishment may have been the work of Sir John Hales who, in 1733, allowed Canterbury the use of the reservoir, which he owned, to supplement it’s water supply. Another major phase of repair and refurbishment occurred in the 19th century when the tunnel roofs were rebuilt and the external steps and door were probably provided.

In February 1988 the roof collapsed. Subsequent part excavations, carried out later that year by the Canterbury Archaeological Trust, revealed details of construction and sequence.

The monument is in the care of the Secretary of State. All fence posts, scaffolding and services are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath these features is included(1,2).

<1> English Heritage, 1996, Scheduled Ancient Monument Entry St Augustine's monastic conduit house, Kings Park, Canterbury (Unpublished document). SKE7366.

<2> Trent and Peak Archaeological Unit, 2002, Water & Sewage Industries Step 3 Report (Unpublished document). SKE8085.

<3> Bennett, P., 1989, 1988 Interim Report CAT: St. Augustine' Conduit House, Pages 137-141 (Article in serial). SKE8087.

Sources and further reading