The circular arched entrance north of the transept appears to be built of Caen stone, and though plain, attests the origin of at least this part of the building. To the east a very lofty arch presents itself of the early gothic. The chapter-house has a very large window of the early pointed gothic, supposed to have been added in the reign of Henry the VII, but it appears of a much earlier date. The arcades of the face of the interior walls are very plain and simple; and are intended to take off the effect of a large extent of plain surface as the windows are but small. This appears to have been general in all Norman architecture. The chimney is very modern, as the builders of the middle ages gave the preference to warming their halls by a central hearth, leaving the smoke to blacken the roof and escape as it best might by an open lantern. The niche in the north transept, which bears traces of the ornamental gothic, was probably added with other parts of the building, as the abbey increased in fame and opulence. The following are the supposed dimensions of the various buildings, &c.:— The church 112 feet North transept 22 feet by 18 feet Chancel 23 feet Quadrangle 73 feet by 47 feet Cloister 76 feet by 21 feet Large hall 100 feet by 24 feet This priory was founded in 1113, by William de Glanville, in the reign of Henry the First, for monks of the order of Cluni, as a cell to Castleacre priory. Here the monks of the latter sent their junior brethren, when too much crowded at home, or refractory monks, to do penance for non compliance with monastic rules. Subsequently, Bartholomew de Glanville, who was Sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk, confirmed the priory of Castleacre to this priory.—The first prior was inducted to the abbey in the reign of Henry the First, and the last in the reign of Henry the Eighth. The monks attached to this establishment appear, according to early historians, to have derived great profit from a cross, said to have been made out of that part of the Saviour’s cross to which the hands and feet were attached, particularly the part where it was most sprinkled with his blood; and Capgrave informs us, “that no fewer than thirty-nine were raised from the dead, and nineteen blind persons had their sight restored by it.” In this priory were also preserved the “girdle for Zona, and milk of the blessed Virgin, and fragments of the crosses of St. Peter and St. Andrew.”