Benedictine Life

 A reconstruction of the cloister in about 1500, showing the crossing tower and cloister walks.(Drawing by Jill Atherton) © English Heritage The priory buildings were arranged around the central cloister, a garden court that was enclosed on all four sides by covered walkways.

The cloister walks gave access to all the principal rooms used by the monks in their daily life. They would have spent time reading, studying and copying manuscripts there. Simple meals, usually two each day, were eaten in the refectory. The monks slept, fully clothed, in the first-floor dormitory on one side of the cloister.

A plan of the monastery © English Heritage As a Benedictine house, in their daily life the monks followed the Rule of St Benedict, a strict routine of work, prayer, study and sleep. These activities were guided by the principle 'that in all things God may be glorified' (chapter 57). Silence was observed at all times, except in the parlour where monks could discuss the business of the community.

Rebuilt several times during the life of the priory, by the 16th century the cloisters were lit by large windows opening onto the central garden.  After the closure of the priory some of these windows were moved to the nave wall.