Wat Pa Khonthi, or the Monastery of the Water Pot Quarter (1), is a defunct temple located off the city island in the northern area of Ayutthaya in the Hua Ro Sub-district.
The monastery was situated between Wat Mae Nang Pluem (active temple) and Wat Wihan Thong (ruin) on the east side of a road leading to a former village called Ban Mo. (2)
Historical data about the monastery and its construction are unknown.
The temple is mentioned in the 'Description of Ayutthaya', a verbal account of the old capital, which was probably compiled from survivors' memories after its destruction in 1767 CE. The text states that a boat ferry existed from Wat Song, on Front Palace Elephant Stable Road in the city, across to Wat Pa Khonthi on Potters’ Village Road. [1]
The same document also mentions a land market in front of Wat Pa Khonthi and notes that the village made and sold earthenware spittoons, flowerpots, candleholders, stoves, and various dolls shaped like elephants and horses. [2]
On the maps
The 19th-century map shows Wat Pa Khonthi along Potters’ Village Road between Wat Mae Nang Pluem and Wat Wihan Thong. The temple, facing the river, is marked with a chedi.
The 1926 CE map by Phraya Boran Ratchathanin does not show Wat Pa Khonthi instead, it shows Wat Tha Khlong, slightly SSW of Wat Mae Nang Pluem. I believe this is incorrect, and the 1957 and 1974 CE maps repeat it.
The 1993 and 2007 CE FAD maps do not show Wat Pa Khonthi at all.
Wat Pa Khonthi must have been at the approximate geographical coordinates: 14° 22' 1.60" N, 100° 34' 9.27" E.
Footnotes:
(1) Khonthi (Th) - vase-shaped water pot or jug. The word "pa" (ป่า) is usually translated as "forest", but in the Ayutthaya era, it also indicated a place where specific products were made and/or sold. Chris Baker translates it as "a quarter". (Baker, 2011)
(2) The road towards Ban Mo or Potter’s Village (บ้านม่อ) ran between Wat Mae Nang Pluem and Wat Pa Khonthi and is indicated on a 19th-century map. The village's exact position is unknown. Phraya Boran Ratchathanin noted that Wat Khao Wua was situated behind Ban Mo but also wrote that the Iron Market behind Ban Mo was in line with Wat Mae Nang Pluem. From excavations in 2000 - 2002 CE, we know that east of Wat Khruttharam, there was a production area for large earthen pots, jars, and massive storage vessels. We could thus conclude that Ban Mo stretched over both banks of Khlong Sra Bua.
(3) In Ayutthaya times, twenty-two ferry routes were between the mainland and the city island. In the northern area, the six other crossings were: Tha Nuea to Wat Khun Yuan, Tha Ma Ap Nam to Wat Choeng Tha, Tha Khan to Sala Trawen, Tha Sip Bia to Wat Pho, Wat Tha Sai to Wat Rong Khong and Tha Khun Nang to Wat Mae Nang Pluem (Tha Khlong). (Baker, 2014)
(4) In the 16th century, before the expansion of Ayutthaya's city wall, elephants were kept in an area between Wat Song and Wat Khun Saen.
References:
[1] Baker, Chris (2014). Final Part of the Description of Ayutthaya with Remarks on Defense, Policing, Infrastructure, and Sacred Sites. Journal of the Siam Society, Vol. 102.
[2] Baker, Chris (2011). Before Ayutthaya Fell: Economic Life in an Industrious Society. Markets and Production in the City of Ayutthaya before 1767: Translation and Analysis of Part of the Description of Ayutthaya. Journal of the Siam Society. Vol. 99.
[3] Ibid.
