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The word reredorter is Anglo-Norman French and since it was the Normans who built (and replaced earlier) monasteries in England, many of the terms associated with monastic sites are in that language.

A dorter was a communal dormitory for monks. The word reredorter literally means "behind the dorter", which is where the lavatorium or wash-house was situated.

This reredorter or lavatorium (Latin for "a place for washing") had latrines which deposited waste into a specially-routed water course below, as well as a completely clean water supply (often via taps and Plumbing) for washing hair, faces, feet and hands.

I once had to explain these Anglo-Norman French terms to a Frenchman, who could not understand any of them.

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The word reredorter comes from two Anglo-Norman French words: rere = behind and dorter = the dormitory. This was a polite way of referring to the lavatory building, which was generally situated behind or next to the monk's dormitory. An alternative name was the Latin word lavatorium (a place for washing).The reredorter had washing facilities with running water, sometimes in the form of a stone trough through which a clean water supply was channelled. There were also latrines which deposited waste downwards into another water channel, which would flush it away.


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