368 



B, Lateral Doorways. — These may be sub-divided into tsvo 

 groups; viz., 1st — Those available for the laity frequenting the 

 building ; and 2nd — Tliose communicating with the Cloisters 

 and the private buildings of the clergy. 



1st. — In classes I., II. and III., we lind these people's door- 

 ways, as a rule, the grandest feature of the church, and they Avould 

 appear to be survivals of the early Teutonic custom of having no 

 west entrance, but sometinies even a west apse, as it is on record 

 once existed at Canterbury. 



They usually had a porch projecting some 20 or 30 feet 

 (generally of two bays), with a chamber above, to which various 

 uses have been assigned. At Durham (destroyed by the sacrilegious 

 hand of Wyatt) this chamber was occupied by two monks night 

 and day, who watched for and admitted any who came and 

 claimed sanctuary. 



This doorway and porch Avas usually on the N., side of 

 the church — the S. being a more convenient position for the 

 Cloisters and other premises belonging to the clergy, nestling 

 under the shelter of the high walls of the nave ; but occasionally, 

 as at Canterbury, Gloucester, Chester, and Malmesbury, these 

 positions were for local reasons reversed. At Canterbury the 

 " Suthe dure," in the same position as at present, is recorded as 

 the principal entrance long before the Conquest. 



This porch is usually in the second bay from the west, but in 

 class I. we find it sometimes half-way up the nave (the result of 

 the early nave having probably been lengthened at some re- 

 building). In class II. it is often in the third bay, and in class III. 

 in the first bay. 



In class IV., to the best of my recollection, with the exception 

 of Kirkstall, such a lateral doorway is not to be found; but 

 this may be accounted for by the fact that the Cistercian were 

 never otherwise than alien houses, exempt from episcopal visita- 

 tion, and did not follow old English customs in the matter of 

 ground plan — not to mention that it is very doubtful whether the 



