Cylchgronau Cymru

the western extent of the church interior excavated may mark the division between the Lay Brothers' and the Monks' Quires. An attempt was made to excavate the interior of the church to its floor level, and in the course of this work many floor-tiles and their mortar bedding were found especially in the presbytery and north transept. Although we are told floor level was reached over the whole area we are not told what it consisted of, and it might be assumed that the extent of the flooring would have been an indication of the church plan. Mention is made of flagstones near the centre of the nave, and Jones also refers to a flagged floor measuring 24 x 25 feet to the north of the chancel. It is possible that the lack of control over the excavations made it difficult to use the flooring material to determine the extent of parts of the building. The geophysical survey (Figure 14) was carried out during the autumn of 1990. A total area of 11,200 sq.m. were surveyed (area marked on Figures 12, 13 and 14) using a Geoscan RM4 resistance meter with readings logged at 1.0 m intervals. It should be appreciated when considering the results that the conditions are far from ideal for this type of survey given the great depth of rubble (up to 8 feet) over part of the site, the existence of the farmhouse in the post-medieval period and the possibility of river silts covering the site. Despite the unsuitability of the site, the geophysical survey successfully picked up the excavated areas, both trenches and the area excavation of the church interior (the light areas), and conversely those areas where considerable quantities of rubble exist (dark areas). Some of the larger fragments of masonry and the pier base in the interior of the nave can be located. However, given the absence of locateable walls at the east end of the church and the great depth of rubble at the west end, it is perhaps not surprising that the results are disappointing. The survey did not include all of the western end of the church. It has generally been assumed that some, at least, of the east end of the church lies in the adjoining field. This appears not to be the case, the idea having arisen because the western extent of the area excavation of the nave has been assumed to be the west end of the church. The abbey drain, on the south side away from areas of deep rubble, is clearly visible as it is on the ground. Between the church and the drain the shape of the cloister/farmhouse is apparent and between it and the drain there is an area apparently devoid of rubble. To the west of the church a number of linear features aligned roughly north-south are visible which may be field boundaries, ridge and furrow or walls. The approximate delineation of the extent of the excavations carried out in 1890 (Figure 12) makes it possible to relate the features that were actually found with the geophysical survey. Plotting the visible earthworks from aerial photographs makes it possible to eliminate many of the post- medieval features from any consideration of the abbey remains, although the re-use of medieval walls for later buildings and as boundaries confuses the matter (Figure 13). The geophysical survey was successful in picking out the edges of some of the excavated area, some of the large fragments of in situ masonry and the drain (Figure 14). On the basis of all the accumulated evidence it is possible to offer a slightly more detailed reconstruction of the plan of the abbey (Figure 15), but its accuracy and any additional detail will only be ascertained by further excavation.