Archaeologia Cantiana Vol. 88 1973 page 139

fourteenth-century or later, and may even be the actual doorway made by Stephen Lomherst soon after 1373,¹³ replacing an older and larger entrance. To the east is a tall, featureless, round-headed opening, seemingly twelfth-century despite modern patching. Its position towards the 'high' end of the refectory is most unusual and its purpose is problematical. Two heraldic corbels set in its jambs appear to be fourteenth-century and have apparently been inserted in modern times, having been found elsewhere in the ruins.'¹⁴ Inside the west wall there occurs a wide but shallow round-arched recess, 8 ft. high and 9 ft 6 in. wide, its cill being 2 ft. above ground level or about 1 ft. more from the refectory floor (Plate IB). If it were situated in the cloister, it would be unhesitatingly accepted as the site of the lavatorium where the monks washed their hands before and after meals.'¹⁵In the position it occupies, however, it would be unwise to assert that this was its function without strong supporting evidence. A small excavation below this recess disclosed a stone drain running north-south against the foot of the wall. Just to the south, a blocked doorway can be observed in this wall and most likely it communicated with the monastic kitchen. The course of a rubble wall lying north-south was encountered in two small excavations in the enclosed garden south of the refectory. It was too slight in construction to have formed the side of a refectory and neither its age nor		purpose could be ascertained. Digging was very restricted in this area on account of the closely placed rose beds. THE WARMING HOUSE This identification of the area between the refectory and the east range has been confirmed by excavation resulting in the discovery of remains of a medieval fireplace against the east wall. Less than half the area of the original room is now accessible, the northern part being shut off by a modern stone wall. An entrance of uncertain age gives access to the southern section which is covered by a modern brick barrel vault. From the interior, the south wall is seen to have possessed two round-headed openings of twelfth-century character and in the west wall is a round-headed recess, like an aumbry, 3 ft. high, 3 ft. wide and 1 ft. 6 in. deep, of similar age. Digging on the east side disclosed the half-round stone kerb of the fireplace bordering a hearth of thin bricks set on edge. The full width of the fireplace could not be determined due to the wall sealing off the northern area. No doubt the fireplace possessed a hood supported by shafts on either side, and it is ¹³ Appendix II. ¹⁴ Arch. Cant., xv (1883), xli. ¹⁵ Interesting notes by Professor R. Willis on the form and function of the monastic lavatorium occur in Arch. Cant., vii (1868), 166-7.
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