236 



Lacock Abbey. 



is : — outside the two-light window in the southern chamber, a curious 

 skew arch with boldly moulded plinth to the south and indications 

 of it to the north. Above are the remains of what appears to be 

 the moulded jamb of a window. Where the plinth stops to the 

 south against a modern buttress are the foundations of a wall 

 running westward with a buttress on its north side. It is 

 difficult to account for the arch over the window being of so 

 curious a form ; but it probably was done to allow a flight of stairs 

 to pass over the top in the thickness of the wall. The stairs would 

 lead from the outer court to the destroyed buildings and supersede 

 the original vice leading from the south chamber of the range, 

 already described. 



On the old map (Fig. 1) are shown at the south-west angle two 

 projecting apartments, and at the north end of the range another 

 projection containing the entrance and stairs to the hall. Dingley's 1 

 rather earlier sketch shows further the nature of these buildings, 

 which appear to have been re-modelled in the 16th century, 

 but it is highly probable the walls were monastic, as they occur in 

 a suitable position with respect to the doors from the range. 



The Abbess's Lodging. 



As before mentioned, there is an inserted vice in the north-west 

 angle of the church, with doors at the bottom to the church and 

 cloister, and communicating with rooms on the first floor of the 

 western range. As the accommodation of a private stair to the 

 church and cloister would only be required by the head of the 

 house, the rooms over the western range may safely be ascribed to 

 the abbess, that is after the 14th century, and these were apparently 

 disposed into two main divisions, as at present. 



The northern part, occupying the space over the inferior guest 

 hall and outer parlour, was, as at present, the hall. 



" The Halle " is a chamber invariably mentioned in all inventories 

 of houses of this order, and was used probably for the accommo- 

 dation of superior guests entertained by the abbess herself. 



The hall with sundry alterations seems to have lasted until 



1 History from Marble (Camden Society, 1^64), ii., ccccciii. 



