DALE ABBEY REPORT. 109 



two by a wall. The western apartment was doubtless a Sacristy, 

 but the use of the eastern one is doubtful, as the walls are in 

 a fragmentary condition. Perhaps it was the Treasury or 

 Muniment room. The western end has not yet been cleared, 

 so we cannot see whether it opened into the cloister or not. 



To the south of these chambers is the Chapter House, 

 second in importance only to the Church. It is an oblong 

 building, as is usual in Monastic houses, and measures 40 ft. 

 by 24 ft. 6 ins. Its groined roof was supported by two most 

 elegant clustered columns, the bases of which remain in situ, 

 but the capitals and some portions of the shafts were recovered 

 from the rubbish, as well as the entire series of vaulting ribs 

 and springers. The bases differ slightly in details and level. 

 They bore shafts consisting of eight filletted three-quarter rounds, 

 clustered round a centre. The difference of level is possibly 

 accidental rather than intentional. All these moulded stones, 

 as well as the walls, bear abundant traces of whitewash. 

 Round the room is the base of the stone platform, upon which 

 the benches were ranged where the Canons sat when assembled 

 in chapter. A most interesting series of monuments were found 

 on the floor of the Chapter House, which we will proceed to 

 describe. In the south-west angle is a large double slab (Plate 

 X.), instances of which are not common ; each half bears a fine 

 incised cross, the sinister one having a sword, and shield 

 charged with a horseshoe (?) on either side of the stem ; and 

 the dexter one, a pair of shears on one side. The accom- 

 panying plate renders further description unnecessary. This 

 is certainly the monument of a married couple, and of four- 

 teenth-century date. It is a curious circumstance that the 

 incised lines have been originally coloured red. Next to this 

 is another slab, bearing a fine cross fleury, with a sword on the 

 sinister, and a shield and small triangle on the dexter side of the 

 stem. This latter emblem is peculiar, and may perhaps represent 

 a stirrup- iron. By the side of this slab is a very fine early effigy 

 of a man vested in cassock and surplice, and holding a book on 

 his breast (Plate XL). Respecting this figure, Mr. Matthew H. 



