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Roche Abbey: the abbot’s lodgings
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Cistercian abbots at first slept
in the common dormitory with the rest of the monks but later on
it was customary for them to have their own private lodgings. At
Roche, the abbot’s quarters were situated to the south of
the cloister, in the area associated with the infirmary. The layout
of the buildings here is not fully understood - the remains are
difficult to date and the area to the south has not been excavated.The
abbot’s quarters, complete with hall, private chambers
and fireplaces, may have been situated in the oblong building to
the south of the monks’ latrine-blocks. An alternative location
is the building to the east of this, which may have communicated
with the monks’ dormitory. Remains of the abbot’s kitchen
and other service buildings – most likely a bakehouse and
a brewhouse – stand to the west of these buildings (and to
the east of the lay-brothers’ infirmary). The kitchen had
a large fireplace in its north wall; the floor was paved and remains
of this can still be seen. These ancillary buildings may also have
served the monks’ infirmary.
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