Site of Newnham Priory, Newnham Avenue - Barkers Lane

Site of Newnham Priory, Newnham Avenue - Barkers Lane, Bedford MK41 9LN

The remains of the site comprise the upstanding and below ground archaeological remains of the Priory Church and Cloisters and successive Tudor mansion buildings beneath and preserved within Aspects Leisure Centre car park and the buildings of the priory outer court under the present Leisure Park buildings in the west. Furthermore, the site includes the remains of fishpond earthworks to the southwest of ‘New Cut’ and potentially under the area of the former allotments to the northeast of the same. Upstanding walls of the former monastic precinct or possibly later rebuild as part of the Tudor Mansion House Gardens are sited on the northern side of Barker’s Lane which now cuts through the former precinct area, in Aspects Leisure Centre Car Park, to the front of the leisure centre along Newnham Avenue, and an extensive length to the east running between Priory Marina and Priory Lake. The most publicly accessible areas are the eastern precinct wall in Priory Country Park and remains within Aspects Leisure Centre car park - both have interpretation boards.

Opening Arrangements

The eastern precinct wall is publically accessible from Priory Country Park which is open to the public from 5am to 9pm 7 days a week. Parking is close by within the Park. The remains within Aspects Leisure Centre car park are accessible from 6am until midnight 7 days a week.

Parking Spaces

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There is disabled car parking available in the main country park car park and Access Leisure Centre car park.