The dormitories in all monasteries were connected with one of the transepts, usually the south, so that the monks could at all hours easily gain access to the cathedral for the performance of the offices of their order; it is probable, therefore, that the rooms over this east walk of the cloisters here at Norwich may have been used as dormitories, with a staircase on the western side of the south transept leading to them. The dormitories are supposed by some antiquarians to have been placed south of the destroyed chapter-house; the door in the twelfth bay of the east wall of the cloisters (marked 5 on [plan]) probably giving rise to the supposition.
The sculptured vault-bosses in this walk are illustrative of incidents in Gospel story and of the legends of the four evangelists.
The South Walk, the south wall of which was also the wall of the refectory. A door (marked 6 on [plan]) at the western end of this walk led to the refectory. To the west were probably the kitchen and offices. The sculptured bosses of the vault over this walk are illustrations of scenes from the Book of Revelation.
The West Walk.—In the first two bays (marked 7 on [plan]) are the lavatories of the monks; and in the fourth bay, a door (marked 8 on [plan]) that formerly led to the guest hall, pulled down by Dean Gardiner, 1573-89. The cellarer whose duty it was to look after the guests probably had apartments above.
A door in the last bay leads to the Choir School; this was formerly the Locutory, where the monks indulged in their daily gossip. The western wall is in the Early Decorated style; the body of the room dating from Norman times.
The door into the south aisle of the cathedral from this walk, known as the Monks' Door, is of an elaborate example of the Perpendicular style.
Returning along the North Walk, the latest part of the cloisters, we come again to the prior's door, by entering which the rest of the interior may be inspected.
The Ante-choir occupies one compartment of the nave, and is immediately under the organ loft. It was in mediaeval times a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Pity. The screens between this ante-choir and the aisles on north and south, were in part formed from the Perpendicular screen which originally divided off the Jesus Chapel from the north aisle of the presbytery. Here in the ante-choir they are certainly preferable, even as "mutilated Perpendicular," to any modern substitute; though it was lamentable vandalism to remove them from their original positions, where they are shown in Britton's "History."