Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 2.djvu/390

362 manner in which the mouldings of the ribs are made to intersect each other at their springing is very clever and interesting. The whole of the mouldings of this gateway are remarkably bold and good early Perpendicular, built soon after 1382.

The east front or inner face of the gatehouse has also four octangular turrets, but is of plainer character than the outer face. Over the gateway is a very elegant oriel window of bold projection, springing from a corbel, with a stone roof, and pinnacles at the angles; the lights are divided by transoms: over this is another window of four lights with a flat arch. The turrets have all lost their original terminations, and it is difficult now to say in what manner they were finished, but probably by a battlement, as Mr. Mackenzie has conjectured.

The room over the gateway, lighted by the oriel window, is of considerable size; it is approached by a winding stair in one of the turrets, the top of which has a very good groined vault, with foliated ribs of singular but elegant design. From its large size, and the buildings attached to it on either side, it appears probable that this gatehouse was the residence of the abbot.

Some of the other domestic buildings of the abbey remain in a more or less ruinous state; they are of the thirteenth century, and retain their groined vaults with arch ribs only, which spring from the walls without shafts or capitals, or even moulded imposts, the arch merely dying into the wall. The keys of these vaults are Ornamented with bold and good Early English bosses, the sculpture of which is very free and characteristic.