The Cloisters


A fire in 1298 damaged much of the area of the cloisters of the Norman church so they had to be substantially rebuilt. Each of the cloisters is about 100 feet in length. They date mainly from the 13th to the 15th centuries and were used for meditation, exercise and providing a route into the main monastic buildings.

Cloister North, Gentleman Drawing Of Monks

Reconstruction drawing of monks in the cloisters


East Cloister.jpg

The east cloister


Cloister Garth

The cloister garth

A memorial fountain in the cloister garth commemorates Lancelot Capability Brown. The cloisters contain the graves of several Abbots of the Norman church and also some clergymen and officials of the church, such as organists and workmen. Also some actors and actresses who were not allowed to be buried in the main church.

A barrel-vaulted passage, called the Dark Cloister, leads into the Little Cloister. This was once the area of the Infirmary during the monastic period.