In the year 1190 Robert Berkeley owned a Spring in Knowle (about 1½ miles away from St Mary Redcliffe Church). He paid for this water to be piped to the Church. The inscription reads –

For the health of the soul of Robert de Berkeley

Who gave to God and to the Church of Saint Mary

Of Redcliffe and its ministers the Rudgewell

and its Conduit

For many years this was the only source of fresh water for the citizens of Redcliffe.

The gift of the pipe is celebrated in October each year by means of the pipe walk. The vicar and dignitaries from the church lead a procession over its route. Unfortunately during the Second World war a bomb fell on Spring Street in Bedminster and the pipe was severed. Now the water that dribbles from the pipe is mains water.

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