 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Fountains Abbey: History
Fountains Abbey: Buildings
|
Associated buildings and features (3/3)
The Fountains site contributes extensively to our understanding and knowledge of the life and function of the lay-brothers. The western range is the largest and most impressive of its kind to survive, and the site includes evidence for and remains of other important and unusual buildings associated with the lay-brothers. Geophysical survey has shown that the lay-brothers at Fountains had their own cloister, which stood to the west of the range, at its northern end.(78) The lay-brothers had their own latrine block (reredorters), which stood at the southern end of the range. This was built in the mid-twelfth century and ran over the River Skell, so that waste would be flushed away. It was a free-standing, two-storey building, with privies on both levels, but these were staggered, which should have lessened the risk of stray drips splashing someone seated below. The latrines could be accessed externally from the outer court and also from the lay-brothers’ infirmary, an aisled building of six bays, which stood to the west of the range.(79)
Another important and rare survival is the late twelfth-century infirmary bridge, which ran cross the River Skell.(80) This linked the lay-brothers’ living quarters in the western range with their working quarters in the outer court. |
