378 



ofif on the outside (as a break in the masonry shows), was removed, 

 and the great east window was placed to fill in the gap as a 

 makeshift (as we can see by the exterior straight-joint running 

 down on either side between it and the turrets). At the same 

 time, as all apparent need for side chapels was at an end, the 

 apse, &c., were destroyed, and the east doorways and windows 

 inserted in the aisles blocking up the Norman arches. 



6th. — There is just the springing of a semi-circular arch to be 

 seen at the east extremity of the north aisle (against which a 

 17th century buttress has been built), and an old engraving shows 

 a similar one on the south, which could not have anyhow had to 

 do with a transept, but may well have opened into the western- 

 most of the circlet of chapels on either side. 



It has been suggested that these arches opened into the west 

 aisles of the transept. If that be so, the section of these arches 

 being considerably wider in span (if they were semi-circular) 

 than those adjoining across the nave aisles, it would follow that 

 the transepts had wider aisles than the nave, which is contrary 

 to my experience, nor do they rake with the arches that would 

 spring from the piers whose bases are exposed at the east end. 



If the above arches were pointed they must belong to the 

 later work, and may have in that case opened into a low transept, 

 like the eastern one at "Wells. 



For these reasons I must discard the popular theory as to the 

 site of the high altar. 



Since reading this Paper, a plan, dated 1725, has been shown to 

 me that clearly marks out the square of the Cloister. It gives its 

 dimensions as about 110 feet each way. Its north walk, unlike 

 that of any other Benedictine house in England, as far as I can 

 learn, was not against the wall of the church, but clear of the 

 transept, and connected with the church by short passages of 

 about the dimensions of the present vestry. The east walk, 

 owing to a fall in the ground, was at a lower level by 

 about 3 feet. 



