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Bayham Abbey, England
 
. . . THIS MAY TAKE A MOMENT OR TWO . . .
 
 
Chapter
(Photo Credit: R. D. Norbert Backmund, O.Praem., in the 1950s)
 
 
(Photo Credit: R. D. Norbert Backmund, O.Praem., in the 1950s)
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This is Bayham, the remaining east wall of the Reredorter.
There is a channel close to this wall (see reeds at left of the ruin)
which may have served as drainage.
 
 
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Gatehouse from north side of nave.
 
 
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Frontal view of gatehouse.  Left side of structure differs 
remarkably in stone quality and was a probable addition of the 18th century.
 
 
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Detail of central window in gatehouse.
 
 
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Outer wall at the top of the Presbytery.   Appears as though 
the tree in the foreground has grown over and around the remains of the wall.
 
 
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View across the Presbytery, showing the east walls of the two south side chapels. 
 
 
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Nave windows as seen from the Gatehouse.
 
 
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View taken standing by the outside nave wall and 
looking through the old north trancept and chapel to the new north trancept.
 
 
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Through the choir area to the Presbytery.   The Nave appears 
very narrow indeed, and there is a tradition that it may also 
have served as a Chapter area during important functions such as Visitations.
 
 
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This Abbey, as are many in England, is very well marked for visitors. 
The larger stones at upper left are the remains of a roof support.
 
 
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Cellarers undercroft, view 1 -- from the side.
 
 
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Cellarers undercroft, view 2 -- longitudinal view.
 
 
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Outer Parlor viewed from the west.
 
 
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North cloister walk.  Buttresses are later additions.
 
 
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Across the Cloister towards the Frater.
 
 
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Cloister walk buttresses, supporting the wall of the Nave. 
 
 
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Nave wall buttresses, taken from the other end.
 
 
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Processonal doorway at bottom of the nave, leading from the cloister.
 
 
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Lavatorium situated on south side of Cloister.
 
 
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Old south trancept as seen from across the Cloister.
 
 
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The three archways in the Chapter House.
 
 
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Remains of the spiral stairs at the northwest corner of the Nave, 
remains of the Gatehouse are in the background.
 
 
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Wide view of Devotional Recesses (perhaps for Mary and Joseph) 
in the old south Trancept.  It is possible that this area was used 
as a library after the church was extended and the 
new north and south Trancepts were added.
 
 
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Closer look at these recesses.  The arched brick work above 
these two recesses suggests strongly that they were part of 
the original design, and therefore NOT merely book or scroll recesses.
 
 
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This recess is in the west wall of the old south Trancept. 
 
 
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View from the old north Trancept.  You can 
see straight across the crossing to the old south trancept.  
You can clearly see the two arched recesses of what was 
possibly the latter library.
 
 
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From the old north trancept to the new north trancept.
 
 
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Memorial to the young sons of the Pratt family, 
who owned the Abbey grounds from 1714.  
This memorial is situated at the rear of the chapel in the old north trancept.  T
here are also two tombs there (see immediately below). 
 
 
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Two graves contemporary to the Abbey.   Occupants unknown 
at this time, no distinguishing features on the gravestones.
 
 
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Devotional niche in the wall just up from the memorial 
stone in the old north Trancept area. 
 
 
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Doorway through to new north Trancept from old north Trancept.  
Slanted roof line and hint of support column at left are clearly visible around this doorway. 
 
 
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Chapel in the new north Trancept.   These are among 
the most complete examples of side chapels 
in a medieval era Premonstratensian Abbey.
 
 
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"Guardian Angel" gargoyle looks down upon us.
 
 
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Excellent example of the fine masonry work at Bayham!
 
 
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View from the new north Trancept. 
 
 
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Stairwell in the new north Trancept, viewed from inside.
 
 
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Stairwell in the new north Trancept, viewed from outside.  
One can clearly see the step markings within the well.
 
 
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Closer view of the interior of the stairwell, showing step marks at upper right.
 
 
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Roof vaulting in one of the chapels in the new north Trancept.
 
 
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Although not visible in the photo, the flat memorial stone to 
Ela de Sackville reads as follows:  "Ela de Sackville, daughter 
of Ralph de Dene founded this priorie in honour of 
St. Marie in the reign of King Richard Ye First.  
The ground was given by Syr Richard Thoreham.  
The Premonstratensian Canons of Brockley with those 
of Beaulie were Incorporated and placed here, 
and their Charters were confirmed by King John, 
K. Henrie III, and Eds II.  It was dissolved in the reign of 
K. Hen. VIII."  This Memorial probably dates from the 
18th or 19th centuries.
 
 
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Closeup of blind sexfoiled circle.   There are several of these decorating the walls.
 
 
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High altar area. 
 
 
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View through the choir area from the high altar.
 
 
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Rear of remains of chapels, new south Trancept.
 
 
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Remains of chapels, new north Trancept.
 
 
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Closeup of some of the hewn stone in the Presbytery area.
 
 
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Doorway to Sacristy from the new south Trancept.
 
 
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Remains of chapels in new south Trancept
 
 
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Remains of another decorative rondelle.
 
 
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Spiral stairs in new south Trancept.
 
 
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New sacristy.
 
 
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Arches in Chapter House.
 
 
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Part of the old south Trancept.
 
 
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Recess which had a depression in the bottom of it. 
May have been used to clean sacred vessels after Mass. 
Located in the corridor between new south Trancept and
the Chapel in the old south Trancept.
 
 
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Old Sacristy area.
 
 
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View across cloister to the cellarers undercroft.
 
 
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Through the Warming Room towards the Reredorter.
 
 
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Base of Day Stairs.
 
 
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Parlour
 
 
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Window and remains of a doorway in the Warming Room.
 
 
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Wider view of Warming Room space, taken from outside its walls, of course!
 
 
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Drainage area by Reredorter.
 
 
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Frater wall as viewed from the Reredorter.
 
 
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Pathway by end of the Warming Room
 
 
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Pathway between Parlor and Frater.
 
 
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Sign speaks for itself!
 
 
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Frater view.
 
 
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Frater view.
 
 
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Frater view.
 
 
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Frater view.
 
 
Frater view.
 

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