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Byland Abbey: History
Byland Abbey: Buildings
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The parlour
The monks were expected to observe silence in the claustral area and to communicate by signs when necessary. Nevertheless, there were times when conversation was necessary and this took place in the parlour. The parlour at Byland stood to the south of the chapter-house and, like it, was rib-vaulted. There were benches along the side. The parlour was not to be used for idle gossip, but for essential communication only. The master of novices might speak with visiting monks here. He was also permitted to talk to novices under his charge, during the first two months of their probationary period. The prior could hear novices’ confessions in the parlour during the time allocated to reading, and the monks gathered in the parlour after the daily chapter meeting for the allocation of tasks. The parlour may also have been used by the monks to hang their cowls.(32) [Read more about the perils of gossip] |
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