{{Short description|Storeroom, usually in a medieval monastery}} [[File:Monks' cellarium, Fountains Abbey.jpg|right|thumb|The cellarium of Fountains Abbey, England]] A '''cellarium''' (from the Latin ''cella'', "pantry"), also known as an ''undercroft'', was a storehouse or storeroom, usually in a medieval monastery or castle. In English monasteries, it was usually located in or under the buildings on the west range of the cloister.<ref>{{cite book|last=Cook|first=George Henry|title=English Monasteries in the Middle Ages|page=71|publisher=Phoenix House|year=1961}}</ref>
The monastery's supplies of food, ale and wines were stored there, under the supervision of the ''cellarer'', one of the monastery's obedientiaries. The cellarer acted as chief purveyor of all foodstuffs to the monastery and as general steward.<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11183a.htm Huddleston, Gilbert. "Obedientiaries." The Catholic Encyclopedia] Vol. 11. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911</ref> He was often assisted by a ''sub-cellarer''.<ref>{{cite book|title=Discovering Abbeys and Priories|last=Wright|first=Geoffrey N.|page=17|publisher=Osprey Publishing|year=2008|isbn=9780747805892}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Christian monastic architecture