PREFACE

In view of the growth of interest in medieval history and art, so conspicuous of late years, it is thought that this small volume may meet the needs of those who desire to know something about one of the most interesting sides of the life of the middle ages. There is no dearth of literature relating to monasteries, and the general facts of monastic history are accessible to the ordinary student in various handbooks. Monographs, however, which describe the plans of monasteries and the position and use of the principal buildings, exist for the most part in forms which are more difficult of access. Special attention has therefore been paid in the present case to the question of plan, and it is hoped that visitors to the remains of our English religious houses, who wish to gain some co-ordinate idea of their various parts, may find some help from this manual.

The writer desires to acknowledge gratefully the assistance of his wife, who is responsible for the plans and illustrations. The master of Emmanuel, the general editor of the series, has kindly read through the proofs and furnished valuable suggestions. The book has also had the great advantage of perusal and criticism by Mr W. H. St John Hope, Litt.D., D.C.L., to whose kindness and learning the writer is deeply indebted. Some idea of what students of English monastic life owe to Mr Hope may be gained from the bibliography at the end of this volume. Thanks are also due to the editors of the Archaeological Journal for permission to found the plan of Haughmond abbey [(p. 114]) on that by Mr H. Brakspear, F.S.A., in Archaeol. Journal, vol. LXVI.

A. H. T.

Gretton, Northants.
12 April, 1913.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I
THE RELIGIOUS ORDERS
§ [1.] The medieval monastery. [2.] Growth of monachism in theeast. [3.] Beginnings of western monachism: Italy, Gaul andIreland. [4.] The rule of St Benedict. [5.] The Benedictine orderin England: early Saxon monasteries. [6.] The Danish invasionsand the monastic revival. [7.] Monasticism after the Normanconquest. [8.] Benedictine abbeys and priories. [9.] Priories ofalien houses. [10.] The Cluniac order. [11.] The Carthusian order.[12.] The orders of Thiron, Savigny and Grandmont. [13.] Foundationand growth of the Cistercian order. [14.] Cistercian monasteries.[15.] Monks and conversi. [16.] Orders of canons: secular chapters.[17.] Augustinian canons. [18.] Premonstratensian canons. [19.] Theorder of Sempringham. [20.] Nunneries. [21.] Decline of the regularorders. The friars. [22.] Monastic property: parish churches.[23.] Monasteries as land-owners: financial depression. [24.] Moralcondition of the monasteries. [25.] Numbers of inmates of monasteries.[26.] The suppression of the monasteries. [27.] Remainsand ruins of monastic buildings[1 - 39]
CHAPTER II
THE CONVENTUAL CHURCH
§ [28.] Divisions of the monastery precinct: varieties of plan.[29.] The plan of church and cloister: necessities governing thechurch-plan. [30.] General arrangement of the church. [31.] Easternarm of the church: Anglo-Norman Benedictine and Cluniac plans.[32.] The presbytery and quire. [33.] Transept-chapels. [34.] Aisledenlargements of the eastern arm. [35.] The nave: processionaldoorways, altars and screens. [36.] Parochial use of the nave.[37.] The normal Cistercian plan: presbytery and transepts. [38.] Cistercianaisled presbyteries. [39.] Cistercian transepts. [40.] Arrangementof the Cistercian nave. [41.] Cistercian influence on the planof canons' churches. [42.] Aisled quires and presbyteries in canons'churches. [43.] Naves with single aisles in canons' churches.[44.] Aisleless naves. [45.] Aisleless plans: churches of nuns, Carthusianmonks, friars and Gilbertine canons[39 - 71]
CHAPTER III
THE CLOISTER AND ITS BUILDINGS
§ [46.] Plan and position of the cloister. [47.] The cloister-walknext the church. [48.] The eastern range: the parlour. [49.] Thechapter-house: its uses. [50.] Varieties of the chapter-house plan.[51.] Sub-vault of the dorter: treasury and common-house. [52.] Thedorter stairs. [53.] The dorter and rere-dorter. [54.] Buildingsopposite the church: the frater. [55.] The kitchen. [56.] Thecloister lavatory. [57.] The western range: the cellarer's buildingand its upper floor. [58.] Exceptional uses of the western range:Worcester, Durham and Easby[72 - 95]
CHAPTER IV
THE CISTERCIAN CLOISTER, ETC.
§ [59.] Plan of the eastern range: the vestry and library. [60.] TheCistercian chapter-house. [61.] Parlour, infirmary passage and sub-dorter.[62.] Dorter, rere-dorter and day-stair. [63.] The rangeopposite the church: plan of the frater. [64.] Arrangements of thewarming-house and frater. [65.] The kitchen: convenience of itsplace in the plan. [66.] The western range: cellarer's building andhouse of the lay brothers. [67.] Later changes in the Cistercianplan: misericords in cloister. [68.] Plans of houses of canons,friars, etc.: their kinship to the normal Benedictine plan. [69.] Carthusianhouses: the plan of Mount Grace[95 - 113]
CHAPTER V
THE INFIRMARY AND THE OUTER COURT
§ [70.] Objects of the infirmary. [71.] Buildings and position ofthe infirmary. [72.] Plan and arrangement of the infirmary hall.[73.] The infirmary kitchen and the misericord. [74.] The abbot'slodging: Cistercian usages. [75.] Abbots' and priors' lodgings inother orders. [76.] The guest-houses: division of hospitality.[77.] The outer court or curia: Cistercian entrance-courts. [78.] Thegatehouse. [79.] The almonry and its uses[113 - 132]
CHAPTER VI
DISCIPLINE AND THE DAILY LIFE
§ [80.] Officers of the monastery: the obedientiaries. [81.] Themonastic day and its divisions: the night-office. [82.] Services andwork of the morning in summer. [83.] The day from sext to compline.[84.] Arrangement of the day in winter: variations of daily custom.[85.] The Carthusian day[133 - 142]
Bibliography[143]
Index[149]