212 Lacock Abbey. 
There is such a remarkable similarity of detail in cloisters of both 
the twelfth and thirteenth centuries as to lead to the supposition 
that they emanated from some one place of origin. They are 
nearly always constructed in Purbeck marble, and, considering the 
large number of abbeys being built at that period, the demand at 
the quarries for this one sort of work must have been very great. 
To meet this demand it is almost certain the caps, bases, and 
columns were worked in large quantities and sent out in sets as the 
orders for the same were received, A parallel case is known to 
have existed in the fifteenth century with regard to alabaster images 
and carved panels. At first these were made at the quarries at 
Chellaston, in Derbyshire, and later at Nottingham, by special 
“ Alablastermen”’ in great quantities, and sent thence to all parts 
of the country and even abroad.! 
The first alteration in the original cloister was apparently made | 
in the middle of the 14th century, when the west walk was re-built. 
It seems to have had a flat wooden roof divided into bays, and © 
resting against the main wall on stone corbels. One of these 
remains perfect in the north-west angle and represents an angel — 
playing on a fiddle. The tails of three other corbels remain towards — 
the southern end, the projecting portions having been cut off in line” | 
with the wall face. The wall next the court was the same height as — 
the later walls of the east and north alleys and each bay was pierced — 
by a large window, apparently square-headed. Unfortunately this — 
walk has subsequently been removed, except a small piece with the 
corner buttress at what was the north-west angle of the court in — 
connection with the north walk. This buttress had, over its top 
set-off, a carved gargoyle; but it has been partly cut away. There 
is a small square-headed loop in the wall of the north alley above | 
the later window, that is apparently of this work, though for what — 
purpose it is impossible to say. It was evidently intended to re- | 
build the south alley in the same way as the west, and the wall of 
the first free bay beyond the west alley was set out and built as 
high as the seat. A change of design was then made, and this bay 
and the one forming the angle of the two walks were constructed 
1 Archeologia, vol. lii., pp. 679—680. 
