122 [Proc. B.N.F.C., 



Abbey by single windows north and south, originally, I believe, of 

 similar character and form as the east windows, but at a later date 

 they had decorated stone tracery inserted in the outer jambs, and 

 most probably stained glass windows. In Grey Abbey immediately 

 over these windows will be seen, each north and south, a corbel 

 table, the blocks on the south being of a Norman character, those 

 on the north are carved into human and other heads and grotes- 

 ques — this is a most unusual peculiarity in a Cistercian monastery, as 

 all carving of the human form was strictly prohibited by their charter. 

 I would conclude that these were inserted at a later date, but that 

 they show a rudeness which does not conespond with the date o^ 

 the inserted stonework of the window below the corbel table. 



The chancel extended eastward from the crossing at Inch Abbey, 

 42 feet long by 27 feet, at Grey Abbey but 30 feet by 24 feet 2 in. 

 All trace of the high altar in both abbeys has disappeared, but we 

 have in Grey Abbey the fragmentary remains of single sedilia and 

 piscina on the south. In Inch Abbey there were three seats for the 

 officiating priests. All the stonework is torn away, but the line of 

 the cusping is shown in the mortar, and the traces of the corbel 

 blocks from which the cusped arches sprang. The stonework of 

 the piscina and aumbry has also been torn out by the sacrilegious 

 housewives of Down. On the gospel side of the choir we have in 

 both abbeys the remains of arches, in the position usually found over 

 the wall tomb of the founder of the abbey. In both abbeys there 

 were very vigorous explorations made in the neighbourhood of these 

 recesses in the search for treasure ; in Grey Abbey the stone lockers 

 for sacred vessels, books, or linen of the altar, were laid bare, and 

 the wall broken through to the adjoining chapel. In Inch Abbey 

 the nave arch, transept arches, and chancel arch have all disap- 

 peared; we have only the responds of the moulding, till lately, 

 peeping out of the debris, which Mr. Maxwell has had cleared away, 

 revealing the magnificently moulded bases and pier responds, some- 

 what similar to those in Byland Abbey, Wenlock Abbey, and 

 Rievaulx. We have also some portions of the flagging left to us 

 from the utilitarian spoliations of the late Mr. Jack Martin. 



