Tag - during

I got interested in Bristol's medieval water supplies after poking around near Jacobs Wells Road and Brandon Hill. It was during that research I found out about a pipe that's still there today, and, as far as I know, still actually functioning, that was originally commissioned by Carmelite monks in the 13th century. They wanted a supply of spring water from Brandon Hill to their priory on the site of what's now the Bristol Beacon—Colston Hall, as-was. It was created around 1267, and later, in 1376, extended generously with an extra "feather" pipe to St John's On The Wall, giving the pipework its modern name of "St John's Conduit".

St John's on the Wall is still there, guarding the remaining city gate at the end of Broad Street, and the outlet tap area was recently refurbished. It doesn't run continuously now, like it did when I first moved to Bristol and worked at the end of Broad Street, in the Everard Building, but I believe the pipe still functions. One day I'd like to see that tap running...

There are a few links on the web about the pipe, but by far the best thing to do is to watch this short and fascinating 1970s TV documentary called The Hidden Source, which has some footage of the actual pipe and also lots of fantastic general footage of Bristol in the seventies.

On my walk today I was actually just going to the building society in town, but I decided to trace some of the route of the Carmelite pipe, including visiting streets it runs under, like Park Street, Christmas Street, and, of course, Pipe Lane. I also went a bit out of my way to check out St James' Priory, the oldest building in Bristol, seeing as it was just around the corner from the building society.

There are far too many pictures from this walk, and my feet are now quite sore, because it was a long one. But I enjoyed it.

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St Johns Conduit Plaque

★★★

Tags: Bristol Places UK onemilematt united kingdom City Centre St John on the Wall St John's Church St. John's Conduit old city

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Text Recognition Tags: STUOHNS CONDUIT GRANTED TO THE VESTRY OF S JOHN IN THE 14TH CENTURY THE SOARCE OB SOPPLY LS AT TEE FO O AK STREET WATER IS CONVEYED SY TER DIRE OROM THE CARMBLITE PRIORY CISTERN- DN THE COLSTON ALL SITE-TEROUGH 2OST STREET AND CHRISTNLAS STREET TO ST. JOHNS GATE T ORIGINAIEY STOOD ON THE INNER SIDE OF THE GATE BUT WS MOVED TO TS RESENI SITE IN L WHEN THE FOOTWAY ON THE BASTERN SIDE OR TASGATE WAS MADE AFTER THE SUPPRESSION OF THE KORASTEUIS THE INTIRE COST OF MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR CFTRE PIPE DEVOLVED UPON THE CHURCHWARDENS AND VESTRY SONETIAEN YAKINE HE WHOLE PARISH REVENJE BO AYBAR IN 1365 AFTER SEVERE DROUCHT THE DEEDS TOGETHER WITH THE RESPONSIBILTTY SOR UPKEBE WERE TRANSFERRED TO THE LOCAL BORRD OR EBALTH DURING THE AIR RAIDS OF 1940T WAS FOR A TIME THE SOLE WATER SAPPLYN THE FART OF THE CTY STUOHNS CONDUIT GRANTED TO THE VESTRY OF S JOHN IN THE 14TH CENTURY THE SOARCE OB SOPPLY LS AT TEE FO O AK STREET WATER IS CONVEYED SY TER DIRE OROM THE CARMBLITE PRIORY CISTERN- DN THE COLSTON ALL SITE-TEROUGH 2OST STREET AND CHRISTNLAS STREET TO ST. JOHNS GATE T ORIGINAIEY STOOD ON THE INNER SIDE OF THE GATE BUT WS MOVED TO TS RESENI SITE IN L WHEN THE FOOTWAY ON THE BASTERN SIDE OR TASGATE WAS MADE AFTER THE SUPPRESSION OF THE KORASTEUIS THE INTIRE COST OF MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR CFTRE PIPE DEVOLVED UPON THE CHURCHWARDENS AND VESTRY SONETIAEN YAKINE HE WHOLE PARISH REVENJE BO AYBAR IN 1365 AFTER SEVERE DROUCHT THE DEEDS TOGETHER WITH THE RESPONSIBILTTY SOR UPKEBE WERE TRANSFERRED TO THE LOCAL BORRD OR EBALTH DURING THE AIR RAIDS OF 1940T WAS FOR A TIME THE SOLE WATER SAPPLYN THE FART OF THE CTY

Tagged: during

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Tracing the Route of a Thirteenth Century Carmelite Water Pipe