Gatehouse

The gatehouse marked the transition between the outside world and the abbey. It was used to welcome and control those who entered the monastery. It consisted of two buildings with two passageways: one for pedestrians, the other for carts. The porter’s task was twofold: to announce the guests to the abbot so that he could come and welcome them in person, and to give alms to the poor by giving them food as well as the monks’ old clothes and shoes. Women were forbidden to enter the gatehouse.