By Harold Brakspear, F.S.A. 



215 



the first place the western walk was entirely done away with and 

 the plinth and wall above, of the north walk, continued up to the 

 western range — the fifth bay was constructed 2 feet wider than the 

 others, with the window openings widened proportionately — the 

 angle bay was vaulted in the same way as the rest of the walk and 

 a small two-light window 1 placed in the continuation of the outer 

 wall across the site of the west walk. There is a large block of 

 masonry against the western range in the form of a buttress, 

 against which this later work of the cloister abuts. It is carried as 

 high as the string-course in continuation of the cloister cornice, 

 but its use is not evident. As there is no sign of failure at this 

 part of the western range it can scarcely have been built for 

 a buttress ; but it might possibly have contained the shaft of a 

 garderobe in connection with the chamber above. 



Over these two western bays has been added an upper chamber 

 in late times, covered by a nearly flat wooden roof, with a ridge 

 beam in the oentre and simple stopped chamfered rafters on either 

 side. Towards the cloister are two square-headed windows that 

 have lost their original tracery. At the east end over the cloister 

 roof is a two-light window with cusped heads. The whole is capped 

 by a bold moulded cornice and a low parapet, which on the east 

 side follows the pitch of the roof. On either side of the front 

 windows the cornice returns downwards to form a label, and in 

 the cornice between the windows are the remains of a boldly carved 

 gargoyle. The room was apparently connected both with the 

 frater and hall in the western range and may have been used as a 

 pantry, or as the camera of an official. 



In the north walk of the cloister immediately to the east of the 

 frater door is the lavatory, which was originally contained within 

 a large wall recess. This recess has a pointed segmental arch of 

 two chamfered members, resting on short jambs with nook shafts 

 having moulded caps and bases — the latter were about 3 J feet above 

 the ground. 2 When the new cloister was built in the 15th century 



1 This has since been cut down and a doorway formed in its place. 

 2 These were cut away, as also part of the jamb shafts, when the later work 

 was done. 



VOL. XXXI. — ISO. XCIV. Q 



