York Guides

After the middle of the thirteenth century little remained to be done. The infirmary chapel was built, the infirmary gallery was extended westwards to meet the claustral buildings, and a building near the infirmary was converted into an apartment for the use of abbots in retirement, probably on the occasion of the resignation of Abbot Alyng in 1279.

The fourteenth century saw no major additions to the abbey, but many minor alterations devoted to improving living conditions within the existing buildings. During this century the lay-brothers ceased to be a significant force in the life of the abbey, a meal diet was sanctioned, and a general demand for better and more modem standards of living led to the creation of private rooms for obedientiaries .md senior monks, and of private wards for the sick and aged. The screen walls forming the lay-brothers' choir in the structural nave of the church were removed, and the other changes are reflected in the rebuilding of the infirmary kitchen (where meat was cooked) and by the partitioning of the aisles of the infirmary hall into individual rooms. The abbot's house was also extended and improved, probably by Abbot Coxwold (1316-1336), and the internal arrangements of the guest houses were brought up to date.