236 Lacock Abbey. 
is :—outside the two-light window in the southern chamber, a curious 
skew arch with boldly moulded plinth to the south and indications 
of it to the north. Above are the remains of what appears to be 
the moulded jamb of a window. Where the plinth stops to the 
south against a modern buttress are the foundations of a wall 
running westward with a buttress on its north side. It is 
difficult to account for the arch over the window being of so 
curious a form; but it probably was done to allow a flight of stairs 
to pass over the top in the thickness of the wall. The stairs would 
lead from the outer court to the destroyed buildings and supersede 
the original vice leading from the south chamber of the range, 
already described. 
On the old map (Fig. 1) are shown at the south-west angle two 
projecting apartments, and at the north end of the range another 
projection containing the entrance and stairs to the hall. Dingley’s' 
rather earlier sketch shows further the nature of these buildings, 
which appear to have been re-modelled in the 16th century, 
but it is highly probable the walls were monastic, as they occur in 
a suitable position with respect to the doors from the range. 
Tue AxpseEss’s LopGInG. 
As before mentioned, there is an inserted vice in the north-west 
angle of the church, with doors at the bottom to the church and 
cloister, and communicating with rooms on the first floor of the 
western range. As the accommodation of a private stair to the 
church and cloister would only be required by the head of the 
house, the rooms over the western range may safely be ascribed to 
the abbess, that is after the 14th century, and these were apparently 
disposed into two main divisions, as at present. 
The northern part, occupying the space over the inferior guest 
hall and outer parlour, was, as at present, the hall. 
“The Halle” is a chamber invariably mentioned in all inventories 
of houses of this order, and was used probably for the accommo- 
dation of superior guests entertained by the abbess herself. 
The hall with sundry alterations seems to have lasted until 
1 History from Marble (Camden Society, 1864), ii., eccecciil. 
