The Abbot’s House at Westminster

Using architectural and archival information, this is a highly detailed examination of one of England's most complete medieval monastic buildings.

In this 1911 study, J. Armitage Robinson uses architectural and archival evidence to examine in detail the history of the Abbot's House, Westminster Abbey. Despite regular modification through the centuries, the medieval building remains largely intact, and comprises some of the most extensive medieval monastic buildings to survive in England.In this 1911 work, J. Armitage Robinson uses architectural and documentary sources to discuss the history of the abbot's buildings at Westminster Abbey. The medieval monastic remains are extensive, but have been considerably modified over the centuries. The abbey muniments provide much information on the building's history, and Robinson includes many documents, both medieval and post-Reformation, to trace the development of the complex and how it was used. As dean of the abbey, Robinson had unprecedented access, and so was able to work out the architectural history more fully than had been possible in previous studies. As the abbey grew in importance and wealth, so the status of the abbot grew, necessitating grander buildings for entertaining. The medieval abbey must have been a continual building site, to judge by the frequent references to structural work in the accounts. This is a valuable study of an important surviving medieval building.