236 Recent Excavations at Holy island Priory. 



the limekiln.'^' The lime was burnt and mortar prepared at this 

 spot, the well being conveniently placed for the purpose. In 

 the eastern wall is the mark of a wide gateway, now built up, 

 which immediately opeus upon the circular pit, so must have 

 been made after the well had been filled up, and the kiln and 

 pit covered. Outside this gateway are the remains of what 

 appears to have been a porter's lodge. 



The cross walls in the southern range of buildings are of much 

 later date, probably of the time of the civil storehouses, so that 

 the gateway may have probably been made towards the end of 

 the monkish times. Against the western wall, as shown by the 

 joist holes, were buildings or erections of some sort ; but as no 

 foundations for outer walls could be discovered, they probably 

 were only of a temporary character. This wall appears to have 

 been battlemented, and the holes referred to may have been for 

 the supports of a wooden platform for the guns belonging to the 

 Priory, as it would overlook what was then the most likely line 

 of approach across the sands, and the probable place of landing 

 for boats. 



It will be noticed that at a distance of 38 feet from the outer 

 wall of the Eefectory there are the remains of a retaining wall ; 

 and again, inside this, foundations of a wall : the space thus 

 enclosed may have been the private garden of the prior ; the 

 rest of the interior court that of the monks. 



All efforts to discover a well which took the place of the one 

 filled up have as yet failed. Another attempt to find it will be 

 made. 



The outbuildings seem large for so small a Priory, but 

 although the greater portion of the corn and stock was kept at 

 Fenbam and the other hamlets on the mainland, doubtless a 

 considerable portion of it was brought over to the island for 

 security against the incursions of the Scots. In 1325 — a time of 

 perhaps the greatest prosperity iu the abbey — the tithes of the 

 three hamlets of Fenham, Fen wick, and Beal alone amounted to 

 90 quarters of wheat, 80 quarters of barley, and 120 quarters of 

 oats, valued at £42 ; and in 1347 the monks were in possession 

 of 6 horses, 58 pigs, 476 sheep, and 29 horned cattle. They 

 usually too kept a large stock of salted fish and other stores ; 



* 1344-5. — Fifty-seven and a half chaldrons of coals for the brewhouse, 

 limekiln, hall, prior's chamber, kitchen, and infirmary — £4 14s. od. 



