In the centre of the cloister garth is an ornate fountain surmounting a pond. The fountain, the conduit of which is inscribed "WB 1720" was moved by one of the Byrons to the front of the house, where it is shown in many pictures, and replaced by Col Wildman. (1)
The inscription can only refer to a restoration for Horace Walpole calls it an "ancient cistern" in 1760. (2)
The fountain or conduit head is in a hybrid Gothic and Renaissance style and probably stands on the site of a Med structure. It stood formerly W of the house near the lake and the earlier conduit head is said to have been moved here soon after the suppression. (3)
The earliest (c.1730) illustration of this conduit shows it almost completely in its present form. It was then on the W side of the house. In the early C19 it was placed in the cloister garth and it is a local tradition that this was its original site, or at least the site of a similar structure. There is no documentary evidence of a Med site. The grotesque heads and animals upon the conduit are reused Med work taken from other parts of the priory presumably in 1720. (4)
The conduit is in good condition and accurately described by the preceeding authorities. It stands in a circular pond which appears to be contemporary with its re-erection. There appears to be considerable doubt as to whether the conduit incorporates, or occupies the site of, a Med structure and no certain identification can be made. (5)
Fountain. C16. Removed and restored 1720. Re-sited early C19. (6)
Hirst Conservation undertook work to the C19 painted decoration to the walls and cornice of Thomas Wildman’s Gothic Library at Newstead Abbey. The (1830s) decoration of this room (19.4m long by 3.8m wide) included the painting of a trompe l’oeil wood-grain effect on the walls…(7)
See M8293 for Abbey House, M8939 for Priory.

Listed buildings slides, 2 slides (Photograph). SNT2648.

Hirst Conservation, 1988, Report on the Conservation of the Painted Decoration in Thomas Wildman's Gothic Library at Newstead Abbey (Unpublished document). SNT5677.

<1> Nottingham Corporation, 1945, Newstead Abbey Pubn no 1 (Published document). SNT251.

<1> Gedling Borough Council, 1991, Gedling's Heritage, 117 (Published document). SNT1552.

<2> Pevsner N, 1951, The Buildings of England: Nottinghamshire, p 116 (Monograph). SNT49.

<3> Thoroton Society, 1919, TTS, p 126 (Published document). SNT344.

<4> Walker Miss, Pers Comm (Personal comment). SNT1390.

<5> Woodhouse WC, 1959, Pers Comm (Personal comment). SNT1437.

<6> DOE, Listed Building Description (Published document). SNT228.