Archaeologia Cantiana Vol. 88 1973 page 134

to the raised pavement of the chapels (Fig. 5, no. 1). Many other scattered floor-tiles of various shapes and sizes indicated the former existence of tile-mosaic pavements, as in the south transept. Fragments of mouldings and part of a chamfered hood-mould were recovered from the destruction debris (Fig. 4, nos. 1, 4 and 6). The base of the altar in the north chapel was uncovered, and it appeared that this had been reconstructed at one time, and the floor raised about 6 in. The first altar was 5 ft. 6 in. long and backed against the east wall. Later it seems to have been rebuilt to stand 1 ft. 6 in. from the wall, its width (east-west) being 3 ft. Originally the floor was laid on rammed chalk and had been raised by a layer of clay and chalk capped by a thin spread of mortar intended as a bedding for tiles. Both lateral walls of this chapel retained traces of plaster. Apparently the east wall of the chapels was not of one build as there was a distinct straight-joint through the footings in continuation of the south face of the wall separating the north and central chapels, and the colour of the mortar was noticeably lighter in the southern section. Moreover, the floor-level in the north-east corner of the central chapel could not be observed due to an intrusive excavation of unknown age or purpose. Whatever the explanation of these anomalous features, there is good reason for assuming that the three chapels would have been conceived as part of a		unitary plan despite a possible hiatus in their construction. In each transept the chapels would most likely have been covered by separate pointed barrel vaults with pointed arches forming the entrances. This arrangement can still be seen at Fountains Abbey where the east end of each chapel was lighted by a pair of round-headed windows with a circular opening above. The piece of chamfered hood-mould found in excavation may have come from a doorway in the north end of the transept, as indicated in the reconstructed plan, Fig. 7. THE WEST TOWER OR PORCH An unexpected result of excavating outside the west end of the church was the discovery of foundations of an attached structure with diagonal buttresses at its south-west and north-west corners. This was clearly a late addition, probably built in the fourteenth or fifteenth centuries, and forming either a porch or a tower. It is more probable that it was the latter although it is impossible to establish this with certainty. The footings seemed more substantial than required for a porch-even one with an upper storey. On plan it may appear disproportionately small for a tower, although its actual dimensions are no less than many of those attached to parish churches. It is known that a tower existed somewhere at Boxley Abbey for after the Dissolution
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