well as the rooms
on the north. Both the turret and the landings replace a much
earlier entrance tower, nearly square in form, and of the same date
as the antechambers. Many traces of this remain, and show that it
was a handsome and important structure.

"The western block of buildings, which is connected with the
southern block by the turret and landings, has been so altered in
the fifteenth century, and further modernized and enlarged of late
years, that it is very difficult to make out the original
arrangement. The southern half is two storeys high, with a large
hall on the upper floor and the servants' department below. The
hall is now divided into two rooms, lined with good Jacobean
panelling, and its fifteenth-century roof underdrawn by plaster
ceilings.

"At the north end of the hall is another two-storey building. The
lower floor is of stone, and now contains various domestic offices.
But originally it formed part of a building of considerable
architectural importance, as may be seen from the jamb of an
elaborate Early English window at the north-west corner. From its
position, this Early English building, which seems to have extended
westward as far as the inner gate, was most likely the abbot's
hall, and here doubtless took place the famous historical dialogue
between Edward II. and Abbot Thoky.[1] Some time before the end of
the fifteenth century this hall was cut down, and an upper storey
of wood built upon it, of which the east end still remains. At one
time it evidently extended further west. Internally it has been
gutted, and now contains nothing of interest to show its use."

"The court of the Abbot's house was probably enclosed by covered alleys
on the north and west sides to enable the Abbot to pass into the
cloister under cover. In the recent alterations to the Deanery, a block
of additional rooms has been built on the west side of the court against
the hall." (Hope.)

There is a timber-framed room on the north-west where Richard II. is
reputed to have held his parliament. It had a narrow escape some years
ago of being destroyed by a fire caused by an overheated flue.

The new lodging for the Abbot (1316-1329, _temp_. Wygmore) was built
near the infirmary garden, on the site now occupied by the Bishop's
Palace. Drawings of the plans of the old buildings (made in 1856)