sidents distinguish the Close from the
Precincts, limiting the use of the former expression to the area west of
the Cathedral. Contrary to what all would expect, the great gateway to
the west is not the boundary of the Precincts, for they extend a little
further west, and include one or two houses beyond the gateway.

This ancient entrance to the monastic grounds naturally first arrests
the attention. It was built by Abbot Benedict in the last quarter of the
twelfth century. Though it has been much altered, a considerable part of
the original structure remains. As we see it from the Marketplace we
observe a fifteenth century look about it: on closer inspection we see
that a late Decorated arch has been built in front of the Norman arch,
and that a facing of the same date has been carried above. Here is an
arcade, with the alternate panels pierced for windows. On each side of
the gateway are also good Norman arcades; the doorway in the arcade to
the north opens into a residence, that on the south gives access to the
room above. This was originally the Chapel of S. Nicolas. On the
eastern side of the room is a three-light window, manifestly a late
insertion, and adapted from some other building. It is said to be part
of a shrine which formerly was in the Cathedral, a portion of which
still remains in the new building. This statement has been repeated over
and over again; but it is difficult to see any resemblance between the
two.

The chapel over the gateway has been put to various uses since the
dissolution of monasteries. In 1617 it was assigned to the porter as
part of his residence. At a later period it was let. It has served the
purposes of a muniment room, a Masonic lodge room, a tailor's workshop,
a practising room for the choristers, a class-room for the Grammar
School. In the flourishing days of the Gentlemen's Society, when members
met and read papers, and kept up a considerable literary correspondence
with learned men in various parts of the kingdom, its meetings were held
here; and it is now used as a Record Room for the Diocese of
Peterborough.

On the left hand, as we pass through the gate, is all that remains of
the =Chapel of S. Thomas of Canterbury=. It is the chancel of a much
larger building. Originally the chapel was begun by Waterville and
finished by Benedict: it was therefore of Norman date. The present
chancel was built in the latter part of the fourteenth century. While
the east window, with it