| WAT PHRAO (วัดพร้าว) |
Wat Phrao was located off the city island in the northern area in in Hua Ro sub-district
along a small canal giving access to Khlong Hua Ro (the old Lopburi River). The word
"phrao" (พร้าว) is likely derived from "maphrao" (มะพร้าว) or coconut.
The monastery stood in an area called before Thung Kaeo or "crystal field", bordered on
the west and north by Khlong Sra Bua; on the east by Khlong Hua Ro opposite Wat
Sam Vihan. This can be seen on Phraya Boran Rachathanin's map drafted in
1926, which indicates this temple.
In the Ayutthayan Era a market was held near the temple. “Talat Wat Phrao” was one of
the 32 land markets outside the city of Ayutthaya. [1] At this market scented articles
were sold, as we read in the Geographical Description of Ayutthaya, that Brahmans and
Thai in the village next to Wat Phrao fabricated and sold scented powder and
oil, scented water, incense sticks and perfumery. (1) [2]
The land of the former temple site was leveled shortly before a visit in December
2008. A boundary stone (bai sema) seemingly on its original pedestal and presumed to
have belonged to the former temple, can still be seen on a private property in the
immediate vicinity.
The history of Wat Phrao and its construction date are unknown.
The monastery is indicated on 1974, 1993 and 2005 Fine Arts Department
(FAD) maps. The 2005 FAD map indicates Wat Phrao in Geo Coord: +14° 22' 21.04"
N, +100° 34' 7.89" E. Following the contact I had with the villagers, the temple must
have been situated in Geo Coord: +14° 22' 17.59" N, +100° 34' 7.89" E.
Footnotes:
(1) บ้านริมวัดพร้าวพวกพราหมณ์แลไทย ทำแป้งหอมน้ำมันหอม กระแจะน้ำอบ
ธูปกระแจะ ธูปกระดาษ และเครื่องหอมทาขาย ๑
ธูปกระแจะ and ธูปกระดาษ I believe are the methods to produce cored incensed sticks
being paste-rolled (kradat) for small incense sticks and powder-coated (krajae)
for larger sticks.
References:
[1] อธิบายแผนที่พระนครศรีอยุธยากับคำวินิจฉัยของพระยาโบราฌราชาธานินท์
ฉบับชำระครั้งที่๒ และ ภูมิสถนกรุงศรีอยุธยา (2007) - page 95, 97.
[2] พรรณนาภูมิสถาน พระนครศรีอยุธยา เอกสารจากหอหลวง
(ฉบับความสมบูรฌ์) - Geographical description of Ayutthaya: Documents from the
palace - Dr Vinai Pongsripian - Bangkok (2007) - page 87.
along a small canal giving access to Khlong Hua Ro (the old Lopburi River). The word
"phrao" (พร้าว) is likely derived from "maphrao" (มะพร้าว) or coconut.
The monastery stood in an area called before Thung Kaeo or "crystal field", bordered on
the west and north by Khlong Sra Bua; on the east by Khlong Hua Ro opposite Wat
Sam Vihan. This can be seen on Phraya Boran Rachathanin's map drafted in
1926, which indicates this temple.
In the Ayutthayan Era a market was held near the temple. “Talat Wat Phrao” was one of
the 32 land markets outside the city of Ayutthaya. [1] At this market scented articles
were sold, as we read in the Geographical Description of Ayutthaya, that Brahmans and
Thai in the village next to Wat Phrao fabricated and sold scented powder and
oil, scented water, incense sticks and perfumery. (1) [2]
The land of the former temple site was leveled shortly before a visit in December
2008. A boundary stone (bai sema) seemingly on its original pedestal and presumed to
have belonged to the former temple, can still be seen on a private property in the
immediate vicinity.
The history of Wat Phrao and its construction date are unknown.
The monastery is indicated on 1974, 1993 and 2005 Fine Arts Department
(FAD) maps. The 2005 FAD map indicates Wat Phrao in Geo Coord: +14° 22' 21.04"
N, +100° 34' 7.89" E. Following the contact I had with the villagers, the temple must
have been situated in Geo Coord: +14° 22' 17.59" N, +100° 34' 7.89" E.
Footnotes:
(1) บ้านริมวัดพร้าวพวกพราหมณ์แลไทย ทำแป้งหอมน้ำมันหอม กระแจะน้ำอบ
ธูปกระแจะ ธูปกระดาษ และเครื่องหอมทาขาย ๑
ธูปกระแจะ and ธูปกระดาษ I believe are the methods to produce cored incensed sticks
being paste-rolled (kradat) for small incense sticks and powder-coated (krajae)
for larger sticks.
References:
[1] อธิบายแผนที่พระนครศรีอยุธยากับคำวินิจฉัยของพระยาโบราฌราชาธานินท์
ฉบับชำระครั้งที่๒ และ ภูมิสถนกรุงศรีอยุธยา (2007) - page 95, 97.
[2] พรรณนาภูมิสถาน พระนครศรีอยุธยา เอกสารจากหอหลวง
(ฉบับความสมบูรฌ์) - Geographical description of Ayutthaya: Documents from the
palace - Dr Vinai Pongsripian - Bangkok (2007) - page 87.
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| (Click thumbnail for an aerial view) |
| Text, maps & photographs by Tricky Vandenberg - April 2009 Reviewed September 2011 |
| (Former location of Wat Phrao) |
| (Presumed boundary stone of Wat Phrao) |
| (Extract of a begin-20th century map) |
| (Extract of a 1974 Fine Arts Department map - Courtesy Dr. Surat Lertlum, Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy) |
| (Extract of a 1993 Fine Arts Department map - Courtesy Khun Supot Prommanot, Director of the 3th Regional Office of Fine Arts) |