88 AMONG THE YORKSHIRE ABBEYS. 
—a most unusual thing—to make room for an additional number 
of altars. This particular part of the ruins is called “the nine 
altars,’’ and is not the least interesting part of the buildings. 
The architecture of the choir is Early English, and is much to be 
admired for the lightness and elegance of its columns and arches. 
Wheel windows were at first used for lighting, but were after- 
wards removed, and the present seven-light windows substituted. 
The eastern window is fifty-two feet in height, and its tracery is 
exceedingly beautiful. The lady chapel is also an exquisite struc- 
ture. The pavement of the nave has all disappeared, and 
instead we have a fine green sward fringed with massive columns 
twenty-three feet high. Probably the most striking feature of 
the ruined Abbey is the perpendicular tower, which rises 1684 
feet high, and is of noble proportions. Next to the tower, or 
some people might think even more wonderful, are the cloisters, 
which, as usual, are situated at the south of the church, in the 
angle formed by the nave and the transepts. They are of 
singular construction and remarkable beauty, and are even to-day 
completely perfect. The chapter house opens by six arches upon 
the east walk, and to its south is the remains of a narrow groined 
chamber, which formed the Abbot’s entrance into the monastery. 
The long, low vaulted building which forms the south side of 
the cloisters is really very wonderful. The northern half is said 
to be of Transition Norman era, the date of the commencement 
of the monastery, and was stated to have been extended south- 
ward in the thirteenth century. Much speculation has arisen 
among experts as to its exact use, but it seems to be generally 
accepted that it was the day-room of the lay brothers. A 
magnificent hall, a chapel, and other rooms, supposed to have 
been the Abbot’s house, were to the east of the cloisters. 
Leaving Fountains, the lecturer proceeded to give a descrip- 
tion of Bolton Abbey, situated within a short distance of Skipton 
and Ilkley, regarding the foundation of which there is an interest- 
ing legend. In the year 1120 William de Merchines and Cicely, 
his wife, founded at Embsay a priory of Augustinian Canons to 
the honour of the Virgin Mary and St. Cuthbert. It continued 
at Embsay thirty-three years, being then translated by a daughter 
of the founders to Bolton, to the vicinity of the chasm on the 
Wharfe where her son, “the boy of Egremond,’’ had met an 
untimely death. While by no means so grand or so extensive as 
