next claim our notice, and although now very inconsiderable, yet, like
most other Abbeys, they originally consisted chiefly of two quadrangular
courts of different dimensions, the conventual church, as was customary,
being towards the north. Situated on the other sides were the refectory,
almonry, chapter house, dormitory, locutory or parlour, infirmary, guest
hall or hospitium, kitchen, and other domestic offices. The abbot’s
house or lodging commonly formed one or more portions of the smaller
quadrangle, and consisted of a complete mansion.
This Abbey, bereft of its endowments by the reforming spirit of Henry
VIII. shared the fate of other similar foundations in the rapine of the
dissolution; the buildings connected therewith were sold, and soon
afterwards despoiled of their constituent parts, chiefly for the value of
the materials, while portions were converted into dwellings and other
purposes, or left quietly to moulder into decay.