422 
on the slope of the Brendon Hills, not far from the Bristol Channel 
and within sight of the Castle of Dunster. The first buildings 
were usually timber or wattled oziers, and consisted of a chapel 
and a dormitory, and these humble settlements by degrees grew 
into the majestic and imposing Abbeys, the remains of which 
adorn our beautiful valleys. 
Each order had its peculiar arrangement of buildings. The 
date assigned to the “ Abbey of St. Mary in the Vale of Flowers,” 
now called Cleeve Abbey, is A.D. 1198. 
In July, 1875, the ground plan of the Church was ascertained 
by Mr. Walcott ; up to that time it had been doubtful. (See 
“ Proc. of Som. Archeol. and Nat. His. Soc.,” vol. vii., p. 89. 89.) 
The rubbish and buildings which encumbered the site were 
cleared away, and at the present time the whole plan and 
arrangements of the Church and monastery can be traced. 
The Minster was 161 feet long, and of the purist and most 
severe type. The narrow lancet windows admitted no more light 
than was needed. The walls were coated with plaster marked 
with red lines to represent courses of masonry, and the floors 
covered with heraldic tiles. The arms of most of the leading 
families of the time can be traced ; an account of them is given in 
Mr. Walcott’s paper read to the Royal Institute of British 
Architects (31 January, 1876), and published by them. Another 
-account is also published in the “ Journal of the Archeological 
Association” (December, 1876, vol. xxxt. p. 402). 
The nave measured 140 feet by 60, and was composed of five 
bays. The aisles were each 11 feet wide. The foundations only 
remain, except upon the south side where the wall still exists. 
An excellent plan of the whole arrangement is given in Mr. 
Walcott’s paper. To the south of the Church was the Cloister- 
garth, on the east side of which is the dormitory, still exist- 
ing in good preservation, and the Chapter house, parlour and 
sacristy; on the south side was the refectory, the picturesque 
front of which still remains, which looked into the convent 
