Repton and its neighbourhood : $b a descriptive guide of the archæology, &c. of the district — John Shaqi
Repton and its neighbourhood : $b a descriptive guide of the archæology, &c. of the districtHipkins, F. C. (Frederick Charles)
History
Repton and its neighbourhood : $b a descriptive guide of the archæology, &c. of the district
Hipkins, F. C. (Frederick Charles)
Repton (England) -- Description and travel; Repton (England) -- History
Leaving the Church, we enter _the Cloister_, through the door at the east
end of the Nave, it opened into the south side of the Cloister (97 ft. 9
in. long by 95 ft. wide). Here were “seats,” and “a lavatory of lead,”
but, owing to alterations, very little indeed is left except the outside
walls. Passing along the eastern side we come to the _Chapter House_,
the base of its entrance, divided by a stone mullion into two parts, was
discovered, adjoining it on the north side was a _slype_, or passage,
through which the bodies of the Canons were carried for interment in
the cemetery outside. The _slype_ (11¾ ft. wide by 25½ ft. long) still
retains its roof, “a plain barrel vault without ribs, springing from a
chamfered string course.” Next to the slype was the _Calefactorium_ or
warming room. Over the Chapter House, Slype, and Calefactorium was the
_Dormitory_ or _Dorter_, which was composed of cells or cubicles.
The _Fratry_ or _Refectory_ occupied the north side of the Cloister,
here the Canons met for meals, which were eaten in silence, excepting
the voice of the reader. A pulpit was generally built on one of the side
walls, from which legends, &c., were read. Underneath the Fratry was a
passage, leading to the Infirmary, and rooms, used for various purposes,
Scriptorium, &c. At the east end of the Fratry was the _Necessarium_,
well built, well ventilated, and well flushed by the water from the Mill
race.
At the west end of the Fratry was the _Buttery_. The west side of the
Cloister was occupied by the _Prior’s Chamber_, and five others called,
in the Inventory, “_the Inner_,” “_Gardyn_,” “_Next_,” “_Halle_,” and
“_Hygh Chambers_.” All were furnished with “fether bedds, &c., &c.,”
for the use of guests, who were received and entertained in this part
of the Priory. Underneath these rooms were “the Kychenn,” “Larder,”
“Bruhouse,” &c., called the _Cellarium_, over which the Cellarer had
supreme authority. Originally the _Cellarium_ was divided into three
parts, Kitchen, Cellar, and Slype or passage into the south side of the
Cloister. The part assigned to the Kitchen was sub-divided into three
rooms, one on the east side, two on the west. One of these two (the
south) has a vaulted roof, with plain square ribs, the boss where they
meet has been carved, and a part of one of the ribs has been ornamented
with the dog tooth moulding, for about 18 inches, there it stopped
unfinished, in the walls are many recesses for the reception of “plate,”
&c.
The _Cellar_ was a long room (89 ft. by 26 ft.), divided into two
“alleys” by a row of six massive Norman columns, four of which remain,
one has a scollopped capital, the others are plain. The floor above was
divided in a similar manner, with the Prior’s Chamber at the north end,
the _Guest Hall_, divided into the various rooms mentioned above, and
a chamber over the slype, which was probably used as a parlour by the
guests.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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