DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.32038#0063
THORNBURY CASTLE, GLOUCESTERSHIRE.
31
two fair chambers, called the “ Steward’s Chambers.” On the north side of the
court was a fair “ Wet Larder,” a “ Dry Larder,” a “ Privy Bake-House,” and
a “ Boyling-House,” with an “ Entry” leading to the great kitchen. Over these
offices were five chambers for " ordinary lodgings,” and a long room in the roof,
called the “ Cock-Loft.” The great kitchen, which stood beyond the east end
of this range of buildings, had two fair large chimneys and one lesser chimney.
There was also a “ Privy Kitchen,” with a lodging chamber over it for the
cooks. Behind these offices were some old decayed buildings, formerly used as
a “ Bake-House,” and an “ Almery,” * with lodgings over the same. From the
kitchen was a passage to the hall, next to which were the scullery, pantry, but-
tery, cellars, and other offices; over all which were four chambers, called the
“ Earl of StafFord’s Lodgings,” with a room adjoining, called the “Clerk’s Trea-
sury.” Many of these apartments are said to be decayed.”
From the lower end of the great hall was an entry leading to the chapel,
which seems to have projected beyond the other buildings towards the east.
The lower end of the chapel is described as “ a fair room for people to stand in
at service-time.” Over this part were two rooms or partitions, with a chimney
in each of them, where the Duke and Duchess used to sit and hear Divine
service in the chapel. Within the chapel itself, which is said to be “fair built,”
were 22 “ settles,” or stalls, of wainscot, “ for Priests, Clerks, and Qeristers.”
The “ Great Hall” was “ fair and large,” with a “ hearth to make fire on in the
midst thereof.” The porch of the great hall stood opposite to the western gate
of the quadrangle; not, however, as it appears, in the centre, but nearer to
the north end. Adjoining to the upper or southern end of the great hall,
was another room, called the “ Old Hall,” with a chimney in the same. The
southern range of the court is called the “ New Building; ” and, together with
the tower at the west end of it, is said to he “ builded fair with free-stone,
covered with lead.” f In the lower story, at the east end, was “ One Great
Chamber,” A. “ The sealing and timber-work thereof decayed; being propped
up with certain pieces of other timber.” Next to this room was one other fair
chamber, B ; and within the same, “ One other fair Lodging Chamber, with a
chimney therein, called the Duchess’ Lodging [B], with One Little Room or
Closet between the two last-recited Chambers.” The octagonal room on the
* The Almery was an office in which alms were distributed to the poor. It is erroneously called
the Armery in the printed copy.
f A word is here omitted in the printed copy; for which, probably, we ought to read
“ embattled.”
31
two fair chambers, called the “ Steward’s Chambers.” On the north side of the
court was a fair “ Wet Larder,” a “ Dry Larder,” a “ Privy Bake-House,” and
a “ Boyling-House,” with an “ Entry” leading to the great kitchen. Over these
offices were five chambers for " ordinary lodgings,” and a long room in the roof,
called the “ Cock-Loft.” The great kitchen, which stood beyond the east end
of this range of buildings, had two fair large chimneys and one lesser chimney.
There was also a “ Privy Kitchen,” with a lodging chamber over it for the
cooks. Behind these offices were some old decayed buildings, formerly used as
a “ Bake-House,” and an “ Almery,” * with lodgings over the same. From the
kitchen was a passage to the hall, next to which were the scullery, pantry, but-
tery, cellars, and other offices; over all which were four chambers, called the
“ Earl of StafFord’s Lodgings,” with a room adjoining, called the “Clerk’s Trea-
sury.” Many of these apartments are said to be decayed.”
From the lower end of the great hall was an entry leading to the chapel,
which seems to have projected beyond the other buildings towards the east.
The lower end of the chapel is described as “ a fair room for people to stand in
at service-time.” Over this part were two rooms or partitions, with a chimney
in each of them, where the Duke and Duchess used to sit and hear Divine
service in the chapel. Within the chapel itself, which is said to be “fair built,”
were 22 “ settles,” or stalls, of wainscot, “ for Priests, Clerks, and Qeristers.”
The “ Great Hall” was “ fair and large,” with a “ hearth to make fire on in the
midst thereof.” The porch of the great hall stood opposite to the western gate
of the quadrangle; not, however, as it appears, in the centre, but nearer to
the north end. Adjoining to the upper or southern end of the great hall,
was another room, called the “ Old Hall,” with a chimney in the same. The
southern range of the court is called the “ New Building; ” and, together with
the tower at the west end of it, is said to he “ builded fair with free-stone,
covered with lead.” f In the lower story, at the east end, was “ One Great
Chamber,” A. “ The sealing and timber-work thereof decayed; being propped
up with certain pieces of other timber.” Next to this room was one other fair
chamber, B ; and within the same, “ One other fair Lodging Chamber, with a
chimney therein, called the Duchess’ Lodging [B], with One Little Room or
Closet between the two last-recited Chambers.” The octagonal room on the
* The Almery was an office in which alms were distributed to the poor. It is erroneously called
the Armery in the printed copy.
f A word is here omitted in the printed copy; for which, probably, we ought to read
“ embattled.”