_Totnes Church_ (Vol. ii., p. 376).--As the priory of St. Mary stood on the
N.E. side of the parish church, it is not improbable that the arched
passage to which your querist H.G.T. refers may have been formed between
the two buildings, and found needful to allow room for the extension of the
chancel on the re-erection of the church in 1432. Perhaps if H.G.T. could
refer to the ancient documents brought to light by the fall of one of the
pinnacles into the room over the porch in 1799, he would gain some
information in connexion with his inquiry. The following note may have
reference to the very "gangway" in question:
"William Ryder of Totnes, by his will dated 18th Nov. 1432 desires to
be buried in the cemetery of the parish church, in itinere
processionali juxta ecclesiam prioris et conventus Totton, ex opposito
magni altaris ejusdem ecclesiæ."--See Dr. Oliver's _Monasticum Dioc.
Exon._ p. 239.
It appears that the present churchyard is the site of the priory, but on
this point the labours of the sexton would probably give some intimation.