Page:The New Forest - its history and its scenery.djvu/84

Rh its doorway is cut a canopied niche, where stood the patron saint, the Virgin, and above runs the string-course, supported by its carved corbel-heads. But the whole building has been unfortunately defaced by a moat and turretted wall, built as a defence by one of the Montagues against French privateers, as also by the modernized windows.

Entering, we come into the guesten-hall, the magna camera arcuata, formerly hung with tapestry, where the minstrels entertained the guests with songs or tales. Like all the other rooms, it has been sadly modernized, though its fine groined roof, springing from four shafts on each side, and a lancet window in the east wall, still remain. Upstairs, too, is left some oak panelling of Henry VIII.'s time, of the linen pattern, but covered over with paint. Eastward, in the meadow adjoining, stands the dormitory, better known in the village, from its former occupants, as Burman's House. Passing through it, we suddenly come upon the green quadrangle once surrounded with cloisters, where the three arches leading into the chapter-house still remain. The black Purbeck marble shafts, and bands, and capitals, have, however, long since become weather-worn and decayed, though the Binstead and Caen stone still stands, here and there covered with ivy, crested with wall-flowers, and white and crimson pinks, and rusted with lichens.

In the chapter-house are strewed the broken pillars which supported the groined roof, and the broken stone-seats which ran round the inside, whilst on the floor lie a stone coffin and gravestones. To the north of it stand the ruins of the sacristy, which had an entrance from the south transept of the church, from which, also, a staircase led to the scriptorium. 66