Central tower, room 6
A scriptorium was set up in this room in the early
1990s to illustrate another aspect of daily medieval life. Scriptoria was the monks’ sole preserve
until the XIIth c. By the mid-XIVth c. copyist started
opening shops in city centres, a consequence of a wider diffusion of paper.
The vault peaks at 6m and replaces a former pepperbox as in the other
tower at this level. The consoles bear the weight of the chamfered ribs; they
were badly restored, probably in the 1930s, and their design used to be more finely
crafted. The vault seems to have kept its original whitewash (tbc), but could
also date from the 1930s. Research is needed here.
Look
at the keystone which represents grapes and
vine leaves. Grapes were not very common at the table in the Middle Ages, as it
was mainly used for vinification.
The hole you will have probably noted, at about 3,30m from the floor is
the first-floor chimney pipe, which was lost when the height of the tower was
raised in the 1380s.
The six windows essentially had a
military function, and were used for observation or fire. They were fitted with
pivoting shutters fixed on a very high horizontal axis, that would close by
itself after firing. Two of these windows were walled-up when the height of the
Old-Hall was raised in the late XIVth c.
In the spiral stairwell, a few steps below the entrance to this room, the
walled-up door led to a former walk-walk. Higher up, another door (now fitted
with a metal gate) was the access to the deck roof that covered the Old-Hall.
Now walk up to the tower’s deck to enjoy the view.
© March 2023