1912.] 



THE PRIORY AT LIHOU. 



389 



Recapitulating then the deductions at which I have 

 arrived as regards the building of the Priory : 



(1) About 1100-1150 the nave was built. 



(2) About 1200-1250 the sanctuary was added. 



(3) Later, say in the 14th century, the tower was 

 built. 



Mr. Lukis gives a plan of a building at the west end of 

 the Priory which does not appear to have had any distinctive 

 name or use. No record is left of there having been a 

 monastery on the island, as a Prior only is mentioned ; but any 

 pilgrims who came to do reverence to Our Lady of Lihou 

 would necessarily have to reduce their pilgrimage to the 

 shortest possible time or depend on some kind of shelter, as 

 the tides in those days were no more thoughtful than 

 they are nowadays, and I conclude this was some sort of 

 hostel, where the pilgrims might be received during their stay. 

 According to Mr. Lukis it was an L-shaped building. The 

 foot of this, divided into two chambers, probably those of the 

 Prior, remains, and the longer limb of the L consisted of a 

 refectory, 36ft. long by 19ft. wide inside, with a circular 

 building at the end of the refectory farthest away from the 

 Priory. This was perhaps the kitchen, and colour is lent to 

 this surmise by the discovery by him in a drain close by of 

 the usual refuse from some fish bones, pottery, pieces of 

 iron, &c, &c. 



To the N.W. of the Priory is the lower part of another 

 circular building with curious niches close to the ground. 

 Tradition gives this as the Colombier or pigeon house, but I 

 have not come across any records which would establish the 

 fact. 



A field close to this is called " Le Cimetiere," and to the 

 east of it is an enclosure called " Le Jardin." These names 

 possibly referred to the use they were put to in monastic times. 



N.B. — These notes represent the result of occasional 

 visits to the island during the last fifteen years, particularly 

 during the past winter. They by no means exhaust the 

 subject, and may be regarded as arriving only at the broad 

 facts of the measurements and character of the Priory of 

 Lihou, and not as an attempt to enter into details. There is 

 still plenty of work for an interested explorer and work, which 

 will well pay research in the investigation of the ruins of one 

 of our most interesting media? val ecclesiastical relics, which, 



