THE infirmary of a monastery, or, as the old word is, the farmery, was a much more important building than might be supposed. Its position varied, the quietest part of the monastery being chosen: the most usual was beyond the eastern range and connected with the cloister by a passage under the dorter. At Haughmond it was south of the frater; at Easby it was north of the church. At Christ Church, Canterbury, access to the infirmary was given by a cloister, beyond the eastern range, as long as the great cloister. In a large abbey of the twelfth century, the infirmary hall was generally like the nave and aisles of a church; meals were taken in the centre and the beds were placed at the sides. This was the plan at Peterborough as late as the thirteenth century, but it was draughty and uncomfortable. We find that, in many cases, the old halls were retained, stone walls and other partitions being made to form private rooms, and fireplaces added. In other cases the hall was removed and the infirmary rebuilt on a more convenient plan. This was done at Westminster between 1350 and 1392, the new buildings being placed round a cloister. The old chapel was, however, retained, with nave, aisles, and chancel. Ely had the same plan, but the aisled hall there was retained, with extensions. At Haughmond there is an aisleless hall of the fourteenth century decidedly larger than the frater.