various changes of style. The
shape of the arch is similar throughout. This was a concession on the
part of the later builders which ensured harmony in the whole; but on
each side the tracery is varied. On the east side it is geometrical in
character, the work being transitional between Early English and
Decorated; on the south side the tracery is more flowing and has
advanced to Decorated; on the west side again, we get the transitional
style between Decorated and Perpendicular, with some _flamboyant_ or
flame-like detail; while on the north and latest side it is frankly
Perpendicular.

#The East Walk# of cloisters is the earliest; access to which is gained
from the south aisle of nave of cathedral, through the #Prior's Door#;
of this fine specimen of early Decorated work we give an illustration.
In the sixth bay, from, and counting the angle, may be seen the
walled-up entrance to the Slype. In the seventh, eighth, and ninth bays
remain the arches which once gave entrance to the chapter-house; these
were walled up until about 1850.

According to the itinerary of William of Worcester, the chapter-house,
which was built by Bishop Walpole (1289-99), projected eastward about 80
feet, terminating with a polygonal apse, as shown by the dotted lines to
our plan.

The prolongation of this east walk southwards beyond the south walk of
the cloisters, led formerly to the infirmary; of which now only remain
the three piers in the lower close; the greater part having been pulled
down in 1804. During some time in the eighteenth century the infirmary
was used as a workhouse.

The dormitories in all monasteries were connected with one of the
transepts, usually the south, so that the monks could at all hours
easily gain access to the cathedral for the performance of the offices
of their order; it is probable, therefore, that the rooms over this east
walk of the cloisters here at Norwich may have been used as dormitories,
with a staircase on the western side of the south transept leading to
them. The dormitories are supposed by some antiquarians to have been
placed south of the destroyed chapter-house; the door in the twelfth bay
of the east wall of the cloisters (marked 5 on plan) probably giving
rise to the supposition.

The sculptured vault-bosses in this walk are illustrative of incidents
in Gospel story and of the legends of the four evangelists.

#The South Walk#, the south wall of which was also the wall of the
refectory