Monument record LVM 178 - Culvert, Water Lane, Lavenham

The survey has enabled a probable route to be mapped but some ambiguities remain as tot he exact course, and its relationship with the 15th century properrties at 55-58 Water Street. There is inconclusive evidence of a single late medieval or early post medieal culvert running underground along the length of Water Street. The available evidence suggests parts of the culvert may contain sections of late medieval or post medieval brickwork. The meandering nature of sections of the culvert and the variety of brick evident in the avaialbe sources indicate that the stream was gradually enclosed over a period of time. Numerous repairs and fabric from a number of different phases of activity are also evidenct, and it is suggested that early sections may have been constructed as individual entities by the owners of adjoining properties during Lavenham's late medieval heyday.

For a monument to be scheduled its extent and survival must be clear so that and area of constraint can be defined. Any scheduling would be complicated by the possibility that houses on Water Street stand over the culverts and therefore the monument is not recommended for scheduling.