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monastery, the porch had the extraordinary appendage of a 

 portcullis, and in the grounds are still standing the ruins of a 

 guard-room, showing that the Abbey was, at one time, a place f)f 

 great importance. The pi*esent Abbey shows many specimens of 

 the styles of architecture in fashion in by-gone ages. 



After exploring the vaults of the old Abbey, in some of 

 which the botanists of the party found seedling bart's-tongue 

 ferns in great abundance, the interior of the inhabited portion of 

 the building was visited. The principal entrance is through a 

 modern-built Gothic archway, and from the vestibule the great 

 hall is entered by a pointed arch doorway. This is a very 

 imposing room, and was originally the Hall of Justice. Its height 

 is equal to its length, namely, 57 feet ; it is 31 feet wide ; 

 and is lighted on one side with a window of seven 

 lights reaching nearly to the top of the gable, three 

 large windows being near the entrance. Around the walls, 

 and high up near the roof, are hung complete suits of armour, 

 banners, antlers, and other symbols of war and the chase. 

 Between the wainscoting of the dais (on which there is stiU the 

 State chair) and the great south window formerly hung the 

 enoi-moHS picture of the Battle of Hastings — 17 feet high and 35 feet 

 long — which was offered, on loan, not long since to the Corporation 

 of Brighton. The armour, it was said, included a suit of Guy, Earl 

 of Warwick. The tapestry alone is worth a visit ; and the library 

 and pictures are very interesting. The vaulted drawing room 

 attracted considerable attention. This room still retains its 

 original form. It is believed to be the "locutorium," a room in 

 which the monks were allowed to have interviews with their friends; 

 but its arrangement is considerably altered. The Pnrbeck marble 

 columns, Caen stone ribs, and vaulted ceiling of local stone are 

 painted white and picked out with gold ; the spandrils of the arches 

 forming the sides being filled in with tapestry and mirrors. 



On leaving the Abbey, the party adjourned to the Abbey Hotel, 

 opposite the gate, whei-e they were met by Mr. Henry WiUett, who 

 expressed his regi'et at not being able to offer them the same hospi- 

 tality as on the occasion of the Society visiting Findon, some f ewyeai'S 

 since. There he entertained them in his own house, and could do as 

 he liked, but here he was only a visitor, like themselves. Still, he bid 



