They who went from the dormitory to the church
always passed under cover--sometimes by going through the cloister,
sometimes by passing straight into the transept.
We have been round three sides of the cloister: on the north the
church; on the east the chapterhouse and dormitory; on the south the
refectory. There remain the buildings abutting on the west wall. In
the arrangement of these no strict rule was observed. But generally
the western buildings were dedicated to the cellarer's hall with
cellars under it, the pitanciar's and kitchener's offices or
_chequers_ as they were called, and a guest-chamber for the
reception of distinguished strangers and for the duties of
hospitality, to which great importance was attached.
These were the main buildings, the essential buildings of a monastery
great or small. Where a monastery was rich enough to indulge in
luxuries of "modern improvements and all the best appliances," there
was hardly any limit to the architectural freaks that might be
indulged in. There were the infirmary and the hospital; the
calefactory or warming apparatus, the recreation hall and the winter
hall, the locutorium and the common hall, and I know not what
besides. You observe I have as yet said nothing about the library. I
must remind you that in the thirteenth century the number of books in
the world was, to say the least, small.
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