114 DALE ABBEY REPORT. 



Figure of Ram, with sol in ariete. 



An alphabet in Lombardic capitals. 



Cross staff and pennon," with letters R W (reversed). Query, 



for Richard Wheatley, last Prior. 

 Four-tile pattern, with fine King's head. 

 Four-tile pattern, with butterfly. De Muschamp, a bene- 

 factor to the Abbey, bore 3 butterflies. 

 But the most interesting is a large, thick tile, of a rich green 

 glaze, bearing the impress of two knights on horseback tilting, 

 between two rows of fleurs-de-lis and quatrefoils. From the flat- 

 topped helms worn by the combatants, we may safely assign this 

 tile to the Early English period, temp. Richard I. 



Part of a singular wall-tile bears a most elaborate pinnacled 

 canopy, and much resembles the famous Great Malvern examples. 

 Search was made before the high altar and in the south chapel 

 for interments, but - .\ithout success. In the south chapel, how- 

 ever, at a depth of three feet, the skeleton of an aged man was 

 found, but there was no trace of a coffin, and we may suppose 

 the bones to have belonged to a canon of the Abbey. Several 

 skeletons were met with when driving a necessary drain across 

 the choir and chapels. 



The absence of flooring in the Church and Chapter House 

 is easily explained by the following entries in the inventory : — 



It' The rofifes, ieron, glasse, pavyng stones, and grave stones, and 



pavyng stones in the Churche sould for £l%. 

 It' The glasse, ieron, pavyng stones ther (i.e. the Chapter House) 



soulde for 5s. 



In a few isolated places were small portions of tile paving, the 

 arrangement being simply the alternation of a plain with a figured 

 tile, without any reference to the pattern of the latter. 



Besides the portions already quoted, the inventory mentions 

 the Abbey Clock, the Dorter, Vestry, Cloister, Chapter House, 

 Fratry, Refectory, Buttery, Kitchen, Brewhouse, " Yelyg " house, 

 Bake house and Malt house, the " Bysshops Chamber," the 

 Bonney Chamber, two inner chambers, and the Elton Chamber. 



A full and exhaustive account of the Abbey and its history 



