The Abbot’s House at Westminster

Using architectural and archival information, this is a highly detailed examination of one of England's most complete medieval monastic buildings.

J. Armitage Robinson (Author)

9781108013604, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 2 February 2011

108 pages, 2 b/w illus. 1 colour illus. 2 maps
21.6 x 14 x 0.6 cm, 0.14 kg

In this 1911 work, J. Armitage Robinson uses architectural and documentary sources to discuss the history of the abbot's buildings at Westminster Abbey. The medieval monastic remains are extensive, but have been considerably modified over the centuries. The abbey muniments provide much information on the building's history, and Robinson includes many documents, both medieval and post-Reformation, to trace the development of the complex and how it was used. As dean of the abbey, Robinson had unprecedented access, and so was able to work out the architectural history more fully than had been possible in previous studies. As the abbey grew in importance and wealth, so the status of the abbot grew, necessitating grander buildings for entertaining. The medieval abbey must have been a continual building site, to judge by the frequent references to structural work in the accounts. This is a valuable study of an important surviving medieval building.

Preface
1. The Abbot's camera in the Norman monastery
2. The work of Abbot Litlynton
3. Subsequent developments
4. Illustrative documents and notes: A. Flete's description of Litlyngton's building operations
B. Summaries and specimens from Litlyngton's accounts
C. The six oaks requested for the abbot by the king
D. The story of the lead lent to the abbot
E. The lease to the widowed Queen
F. The grant to Bishop Thirlby
G. Dissolution inventories
H. The Dean's house in the Bishop's time
I. The site of the misericorde
J. Notices relating to the Deanery
K. The Norman chequer work
L. Where was the Abbot's chapel.

Subject Areas: Early history: c 500 to c 1450/1500 [HBLC]