The reredorter was an important room or building in a monastery in Western Europe. Most frequently attached to the south end or the east side of the monks' dormitory on the east of the main cloister, the reredorter was a communal latrine for the monks. The seats were regularly on the first floor of the building (so as to allow direct access from the dormitory) and the waste was usually carried away by a stream or conduit, or by a river.