1 6 THE CHARM OF ST. MARY’S ABBEY AND 
of great beauty and extent. The plan of the Church would con¬ 
sist of a long nave with massive columns, as we see at Selby, Kirk- 
stall and Fountains ; a short choir terminating in an apse, with 
three smaller apsidal chapels on each side of varying sizes, opening 
out of the aisled north and south transepts. Part of the founda¬ 
tions of three of these side apses and one-half of the sanctuary on 
the north side were unearthed in the excavations of 1901-2 ; the 
outlines of two on the south side are indicated on a plan made in 
1828, and these were evidently filled in again, but when excavating 
near the outer entrance to the Architectural Museum, a fragment 
of one of the walls was discovered. Early in January of this year, 
Mr. Brook, with his great appreciation of the Abbey, on deciding 
to excavate the remaining portions of the three northern apses, it 
was found these areas had been previously dug over and filled in for 
some unaccountable reason, and the plan remained hidden. How¬ 
ever, we can now see the exact form these apses took. And another 
interesting feature was brought to light: just beneath the sods lay 
the ancient concrete floor, with a fragment of cement bedding for the 
tiles ; a few of the red tiles, measuring about gin. square by 2in. 
thick, may be seen half embedded in the wall. So we have here 
the only portion of the Norman flooring of the Church, which is 
some 2ft. below that of the 13th century transept. And this fea¬ 
ture is worth noting, the 13th century builders did not erect a 
continuous wall or platform for the pillars of the eastern aisle, but 
built them on the ends of the division walls of the Norman apses. 
Under the floor of the second apse the remains of five skeletons, 
probably of monks, were discovered. The floor has been repaired, 
and two ledger stones, previously unearthed and lying in the 
grounds, have been placed on the floor to mark these interments. 
When excavating for the south arcade of the Choir in October 
last, the fragment of the southern half of the apse of the sanctuary 
was discovered. 
The effects of Royal and other patronage is evidenced in the 
remains of the beautiful pillars and arches of the vestibule leading 
from the cloister quadrangle to the Chapter House. The accom¬ 
panying illustration gives some idea of the glorious past. (Plate II.) 
The good Abbot Stephen was one, if not the most distinguished 
of the Abbots of St. Mary’s. His energy and pious zeal being 
equalled only by Simon de Warwick, the great builder of the 
beautiful 13th century Church. They present a beautiful picture 
of monastic life under its best aspects—that of active labour—and 
