England's Abbeys
Monastic Buildings and Culture Product Code: 51006For almost one thousand years, from the 7th century to the early 16th, there were monasteries in Britain. They did not all flourish for this entire period and there were times of decline. And then there was the sudden and painful end when Henry VIII closed all the monasteries in the 1530's. However, by the time Henry dissolved them there were already hundreds of established abbeys and priories, and these prospered for long enough to make an enormous cultural and intellectual contribution to life in Britain and to leave one of the most striking and fascinating architectural legacies.
This beautifully illustrated book explores the development of monasticism - tracing its origins in the Middle East and its history in England from the first Christian missionaries in the Saxon period until the dissolution - and highlights the characteristics, lives and values of the main monastic orders. The buildings and associated features of a monastery are also covered, with descriptions of what each part was like and how it was used, giving us an evocative view into the life of medieval monk or nun.
Hardback, 216 pages
