6. In architectural arrangement, monastic establish- ments, whether abbeys, priories, or other convents, fol- lowed nearly the same plan. The great enclosure (va- rying, of course, in extent with the wealth and im- portance of the monasterj'), generally with a stream running beside it, was surrounded by a wall, the princi- pal entrance being through a gatetcog to the west or north-west. This gateway was a considerable building, and often contained a chapel, with its altar, besides the necessary accommodation for the porter. The alinerg, or place where alms were distributed, stood not far within the great gate, and generally a little to the right hand : there, too, was often a chapel with its altar. I'ro- ceeding onwards, the west entrance of the church ap- peared. The church itself was always, where it received its due development, in the form of a Latin cross; i.e., a cross of which the transepts are short in proportion to the nave. Moreover, in Norman churches, the east- ern limb never approached the nave or western limb in length. Whether or not the reason of this preference of the Latin cross is found in the domestic arrangements of the monastic buildings, it was certainly best adapted to it; for the nave of the church, with one of the tran- septs, formed the whole of one side and part of another side of a quadrangle; and an}' other tlian a long nave would have involved a small quadrangle, while a long transept would leave too little of another side, or none at all, for other buildings. How the internal arrange- ments were aflected by this adaptation of the nave to external requirements we have seen under the head Ca- THEDUAL, to which also we refer for the general de- scription of the conventual church. Southward of the church, and parallel with the south transept, was car- ried the western range of the monastic offices; but it will be more convenient to examine their arrangement within the court. We enter, then, by a door near the west end of the church, and passing though a vaulted passage, find ourselves in the cloister court, of wliich the nave of the church forms the northern side, the transept part of the eastern side, and other buildings, in the order to be presently described. com|ilete the ([uadrangle. The cloisters themselves extended around the whole of the (pia<lrangle, serving, among other purposes, as a covered Avay from every part of the cj)nvent to every other part. They were furnished, perhaps always, with lavatories, on the decoration and construction of wliich nuieh cost was expended; and sometimes also with desks and closets of wainscot, which served the purpose of a scriptorium. Com- mencing the circuit of the cloisters at the north-west corner, and turning southward, wc have first the ffor- mitory or dorter, the use of which is sufficiently in- dicated by its name. This occupied tlie whole of the western side of the quadrangle, and sometimes had a
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groined passage beneath its whole length, called the twibulatory, a noble example of which, in perfect pres- ervation, remains at Fountains. The south side of the quadrangle contained the refectory, with its correlative, the coquina or kitchen, which was sometimes at its side, and sometimes behind it. The refectory was furnished with a pulpit, for the reading of some portion of Script- ure during meals. On this side of the quadrangle may also be found, in general, the locutorium or parlor, the latter word being, at least in etymology, the fidl equiv- alent of the former. The abbofs lodge commonly com- menced at the south-east corner of the quadrangle; but, instead of conforming itself to its general direction, rather extended eastwards, with its own chapel, hall, parlor, kitchen, and other offices, in a line parallel with the choir or eastern limb of the church. Turning north- wards, still continuing within the cloisters, we come first to an open passage leading outwards, then to the chapter-house or its vestibule; then, after another open passage, to the south transept of the church. Immedi- ately before us is an entrance into the church, and an- other occurs at the end of the west cloister. The parts of the establishment especially connected with sewerage were built over or close to the stream ; and we may re- mark that both in drainage and in the supply of water great and laudable care was alwa3-s taken. The stream also turned the abbey mill, at a small distance from the monastery. Other offices, such as stables, bretvhouses, bakehouses, and the like, in the larger establishments usually occupied another court, and in the smaller were connected with the chief buildings in the only quadran- gle. It is needless to say that, in so general an account, we cannot enumerate exceptional cases. It may, how- ever, be necessary to say that the greatest difference of all, that of placing the quadrangle at the north, instead of the south side of the church, is not unknown ; it is so at Canterbury and at Lincoln, for instance (comp. Hook, Church Diet. p. 414, 415). This branch of the subject may be followed out in the several plans of monasteries scattered among topographical works, and especially in Parker, Glossary of Architecture, p. 146 sq.
Literature. — The large number of works treating of Monasticism (q. v.) should be consulted by the student, especially the Church histories. See also Walcott, Sa- a-ed A rchceol. s. v. ; Blunt, Theol. Diet. s. v. ; Eadie, Eccl. Diet. s. v.; Riddle, Christian Antiquities, p. 781-783. The best materials for a history of the series of confisca- tions that ensued in England are in Three Chapters of Letters relating to the Suppression of Monasteries (Lond., Camden Society, 1843).