Medieval England was a land filled with abbeys and priories, friaries and monasteries and nunneries from wide range of monastic orders. Until the dissolution ordered by Henry VIII, they were spread over all of Britain. Their lives were ruled by abbots, abbesses and priors and all adhered to the monastic day of prayer and worship.

The book explains the differences between the orders, provides plans for the monastic communities across the land, explains the officers and offices of the abbey, a glossary of unfamiliar terms, and a section of black and white photos of the remains of abbeys today. There is an index of all houses mentioned in the text along with whether they are administered by the Ministry of Works or in private hands.

I wish I had read this book before reading Ellis Peters' Cadfael mysteries. I would have understood the monastic life much more easily ( )