204 



Lacoek Abbey. 



destruction had been so complete that the barest foundations were 

 alone traceable, and in places even these were entirely removed. 

 Although the investigation was not as satisfactory as was anticipated, 

 the result was far from worthless, as it determined the length and 

 width of the original building, and the position of the added Lady 

 chapel. 



The original church was an aisleless parallelogram 143ft. 

 long, by 28ft. wide, divided into seven bays, without any 

 structural division between the nave and quire. As four of the remain- 

 ing bays of the north wall exist to their full height, the original 

 design of the side walls of the church is fortunately preserved. In 

 each bay was a tall lancet window, except in the two covered by 

 the dorter range. Internally the windows had continuous 

 mouldings to the jambs and arches, with a hood mould over the 

 latter. Under the sills was a string-course 10ft. above the floor 

 level, with a wide band of ashlar beneath. Between the windows 

 were corbels, under the string-course, carrying attached triple wall 

 shafts, with moulded caps and bases to support the vaulting. The 

 springers and wall ribs of the vaulting were in stone, but judging 

 from the slight abutment afforded by the walls, the rest was probably 

 constructed in wood, like the contemporary work that remains at 

 York and Eochester. All the projecting mouldings have been cut 

 away in line with the wall, in all probability by Sharington. 

 Externally the windows had double chamfered jambs and arch 

 mouldings, with a label over the latter. Between each was a flat 

 pilaster buttress, and at each angle of the building were double 

 buttresses. The latter were surmounted above the eaves by 

 octagonal turrets with spirelet tops — two at each angle — like those 

 at the west corner of the south aisle at Tintern. The top of the 

 walls under the eaves was finished with a continuous corbel table, 

 and at the base was a bold plinth of two orders of chamfers that 

 continued round the buttresses. 



The north-west angle of the church was built complete, without 

 any provision being made for the junction of the western range. 

 This is very little later in date, and is built up against the church 

 without any bond. The northern of the two buttresses was partly 



