16 A HISTORY OF GARDENING IN ENGLAND 



in 1362, and the next year he received 10s. for pears and apples 

 sold. 1 To the west of the Infirmary lay the " Grete " garden, 

 and the Abbot's own garden was on the part of Broad Sanctuary 

 which now surrounds the Crimean monument, and was in the 

 north-west angle of the old wall. There were, furthermore, 

 the " Hostry " garden, beyond the stream which skirted the 

 monastery and turned a mill near where it fell into the Thames 

 at " Millbank." Not far from here was the " bowling alley " 

 and the kitchen-garden. There was an osier-bed in a small 

 island in the stream, and somewhere to the west of it the 

 " Precentors' mede " and the " Almoner's mede," or " Almery 

 garden." On the site of Vine Street was situated the vineyard, 

 and " Market Mede " was hard by, where Market Street now 

 runs. The Cellarer had a large garden farther off, probably 

 the " Convent," or Covent, Garden of later times. Besides 

 this, there were other gardens which were sometimes in the 

 hands of the monastery, but more frequently let. One of 

 these — " Maudit's " garden — is frequently referred to in the 

 accounts. 2 This garden was part of some land exchanged 

 with Thomas Maudit, Earl of Warwick, in the thirteenth 

 century. 



In all countries, heathen and Christian, and in all ages, 

 flowers have played an important part in ceremonies, such as 

 funeral rites and marriage feasts. England in the Middle 

 Ages was no exception ; and the use of flowers in the services 

 of the Church, in crowning the priests, wreathing candles, or 

 adorning shrines, was very general. 



The gardens within the monastery walls for providing these 

 flowers were under the care of the Sacristan. At Abingdon, he 

 paid the gardinarius four bushels of corn for the rent of his 

 garden. 3 At Norwich, the Sacristan seems to have had more 

 than one garden, as a very cursory glance at the MS. accounts 

 of that office shows the names of both " St. Mary's " and the 



1 MSS. Records, Westminster Abbey. 



2 " A Toft called Maudit's garden," etc., 1350, MSS. Records, West- 

 minster Abbey. 



3 Abingdon Accounts, R. E. G. Kirk : 



1388-9, et de iiij bussellis frumenti de Sacrista pro orto suo, 

 nichil hie in denarijs quia recipiuntur in sua specie ut patet 

 extra. 



