Editing Kirkstall Abbey (section)

== Buildings ==
[[File:Kirkstall Abbey Kirche Hauptschiff.jpg|thumb|right|Interior]]
The English Cistercian houses, of which there are remains at Fountains, [[Rievaulx]], Kirkstall, [[Tintern]] and [[Netley]], were mainly arranged after the same plan, with slight local variations. As an example, below is the groundplan of Kirkstall Abbey, one of the best preserved.{{sfn|Venables|1911}}

[[File:KirkstallAbbey.JPG|200px|thumb|left|Kirkstall Abbey]]
The church is of the Cistercian type, with a short [[chancel]] (3), and [[transept]]s (4) with three eastward [[chapel]]s to each, divided by solid walls. The building is plain, the windows are unornamented, and the [[nave]] (1) has no [[triforium]]. The windows and doorways have round heads, whereas the vaulting arches are pointed and the moldings and capitals also show early [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] features.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Linstrum|first=Derek|title=Historic Architecture of Leeds|publisher=Oriel Press|year=1969|pages=8}}</ref> During the 15th century, the great east window was replaced with a smaller one. The tower over the crossing was made higher in the 16th century, just before dissolution.<ref name=":0" />

The [[cloister]] to the south (5) occupies the whole length of the nave. On the east side stands the two-aisled [[chapter house]] (7), between which and the south transept is a small [[sacristy]], and on the other side two small apartments, one of which was probably the [[parlour]] (8). Beyond this is the [[calefactory]] or day-room of the monks. Above this whole range of building runs the monks' dormitory, opening by stairs into the south transept of the church.{{sfn|Venables|1911}}

On the south side of the cloister (5) there are the remains of the old refectory, running, as in Benedictine houses, from east to west, and the new refectory (12), which, with the increasing occupancy of the house, superseded it, reoriented, as is usual in Cistercian houses, from north to south. Adjacent to this apartment are the remains of the kitchen, pantry and buttery. The arches of the lavatory are to be seen near the refectory entrance. The western side of the cloister is occupied by vaulted cellars, supporting on the upper story the dormitory of the [[lay brother]]s (9).{{sfn|Venables|1911}}

[[File:Kirkstall Abbey ground plan.GIF|thumb|380px|Kirkstall Abbey layout]]

# [[Nave]]
# [[Tower]]
# [[Chancel|Presbytery]]
# North and south [[transept]]s
# [[Cloister]]
# Library (part of east range, with 7 & 8)
# [[Chapter house]] (part of east range, with 6 & 8)
# [[Parlour]] (part of east range, with 6 & 7)
#[[Lay brother|Lay brothers']] dormitory
# [[Reredorter]]
# The Lane/ malt house
# [[Refectory]]
# [[Calefactory|Warming house]]
# (unknown)
# [[Novice]]s' quarter
# Abbot's lodgings
# Visiting abbot's lodgings
# [[wikt:infirmary|Infirmary]]

Extending from the south-east angle of the main group of buildings are the walls and foundations of a secondary group of buildings (17, 18). These have been identified as the hospitium or the abbot's house, but they occupy the position in which the infirmary is more usually found. The hall was a very spacious apartment, measuring 83&nbsp;ft. in length by 48&nbsp;ft. 9&nbsp;inches in breadth, which was divided by two rows of columns. The fish-ponds lay between the monastery and the river to the south. The abbey mill was situated about 80 yards to the north-west. The millpool may be distinctly traced, together with the [[goit]] or mill stream.{{sfn|Venables|1911}}