By C. R. Talbot, Esq. 



223 



The Sacristy. 



The vaulting of this room is very plain, the ribs being simply 

 chamfered and not moulded, and the manner in which two of 

 the diagonal ribs spring from the eastern wall is decidedly 

 clumsy. 



A recent excavation has disclosed the moulded base of the 

 octagonal or western pillar, which had been entirely concealed by 

 rubbish, and has determined the original level of the floor. 



Amongst the rubbish were found many fragments of paving 

 tiles, and some pieces of Purbeck marble shafts, of small diameter, 

 showing that this material was used in the Abbey. These must 

 have been detached shafts, and may have belonged to the 

 church. The material does not occur in any of the remaining 

 buildings. 



The clustered pillar has its base at a higher level than the 

 octagonal one, and is supported on a short pier or pedestal of 

 masonry. The responds are similarly treated ; but that to the 

 south has its base higher and its shaft shorter than the other. 

 Adjacent to this pillar, a little of the original tile pavement has 

 been found "in situ." It consists of small tiles, apparently alternately 

 black and white or light yellow, set diagonally, and bordered by a 

 band of narrow black tiles. 



Immediately to the east of this point, the floor must have been 

 at a higher level; and steps probably led up to an altar, for the 

 sacristies of abbeys were commonly chapels as well. The piscina 

 for the service of this altar remains ; and is of good character, 

 with a " shouldered arch." The plan of the basin is a trefoil. 

 This piscina forms one composition with a trefoil-headed doorway, 

 that led into the church. 



There is also a double ambry, of very plain character. 



The principal doorway, which communicated with the cloister 

 area, is not central. The wall here is very thick, and the arch of 

 the rear- vault, like many other specimens of Early English work 

 in this building, is a single segment of a circle. On the face and 

 soffit of this arch are faint traces of the original painting. The 

 arch of the doorway itself is pointed, but almost a semicircle. The 



