226 



Lacock Abbey. 



the 15th century. At the same time a large flying buttress was 

 built externally opposite the centre column, apparently to prevent 

 an outward thrust of the vault, but its great size was more than 

 would have been necessary for this purpose alone, and it may have 

 been to support a bridge from the dorter to the upper part of the 

 infirmary. The whole east side of the buttress has been cut away 

 about 2 J- feet in the 16th century. 



The north wall has in its east bay a segmental-headed doorway, 

 with plain chamfered jambs and arch, leading to the sub-vault of 

 the rere-dorter. The original floor-level immediately in front of 

 it was considerably lower than the rest of the room. 



The west wall has in the first bay from the north a rere-arch of 

 a window similar to, but smaller than, those in the east wall. The 

 outside of the window has been destroyed and a square opening of 

 uncertain date inserted. Both window seats remain perfect, but 

 at a higher level than those in the opposite wall. The next bay 

 is entirely occupied by a large hooded fireplace, with lamp brackets 

 on either side, but it has been much mutilated. The next bay 

 southward contains the segmental rere-arch of the entrance 

 doorway, which on the other side is a plain segmental arch of two 

 chamfered orders, unlike any other doorways in the buildings. 

 In the southern bay must be the back of the doorway inserted in 

 the book recess, but this is now covered with plaster. 



The south wall is blank, but the vaulting corbel in the centre 

 has been cut away. 



All the walls at present are covered with a thick coat of plaster, 

 which effectually conceals any evidence of original arrangements. 

 The southern bay was probably partitioned off to form a more 

 commodious book closet in the 14th century, when the door from 

 the cloister was inserted in the northernmost of the old book 

 cupboards. 



The Dorter. 1 



Occupying the whole of the upper floor of the eastern range 



1 The old English word " dorter," meaning a sleeping place, was used 

 invariably by mediaeval writers. It is derived from the old French dortour 

 or dor loir which comes from the Latin dormitorium. See A New English 

 Dictionary, hi., 607, — Dortour, Dorter. 



