230 Lacock Abbey. 
sufficient for the use of the convent, or whether a new rere-dorter 
was erected further north. 
Tue INFIRMARY. 
The infirmary, or farmery, was a complete block of buildings 
detached from those surrounding the cloister except: by a covered 
passage or pentice. As its name implies it was for the aecommo- 
dation of the aged or infirm religious who were physically unable 
to live the strict life of the cloister. 
At Lacock the infirmary was situated to the east of the claustral 
buildings, and was approached therefrom through the passage 
next the chapter-house already described. The whole block was 
completely destroyed at the suppression, and the site has not yet 
been excavated. In cutting a drain in 1896 sundry walls were 
uncovered, but were not sufficient to tell of the arrangement until 
further followed. Probably it would not be unlike that of 
the sister house at Burnham, which consisted of a large hall placed 
north and south with a small rere-dorter at the north end and 
presumably a chapel and kitchen eastward. 
The care of the sick and ordering of the infirmary was under 
the charge of an officer, in accordance with the rule:—“ egrotantium 
cura siue post egritudinem reficiendorum siue aliqua imbecillitate 
eciam siue febribus laborantium, uni alicui debet iniungi, ut ipse 
de cellario petat quod cuique opus esse prospexerit,’ but in cases 
of severe illness a physician had to be called in. 
Tue Frarter.! 
The frater, or dining-hall of the convent, occupies the whole of 
the north side of the cloisters over a subvault. 
The basement is divided into two parts by a cross wall towards 
its eastern end. The eastern part forms a passage vaulted into 
two severies with plain semi-octagonal ribs resting on moulded 
1 The old English word “ frater,” meaning a dining-hall, is at least as old 
as the thirteenth century. It has nothing to do with frater, a brother, but is 
derived from the old French fraitur, which comes from the Latin refectorium. 
See 4 New English Dictionary, iv., 515, Frater. 
