Monasteries

Nave of the church of Kirkstall Abbey in Leeds, Yorkshire (England); view to the east

Chapter house of Kirkstall Abbey in Leeds, Yorkshire (England)

former kitchen of Kirkstall Abbey in Leeds, Yorkshire (England)

All images by Jungpionier

Model of Kirkstall Abbey in Leeds, Yorkshire (England), before the Dissolution of the Monasteries (1539)

image by Jungpionier

Ground plan of Kirkstall Abbey, Leeds, West Yorkshire (England)

1 - nave ... the monks spent at least a third of their day in church
2 - tower
3 - presbytery
4 - transepts
5 - cloister ... this was a covered walkway with an open colonnade that enabled the monks to walk around in contemplation.
6 - library
7 - chapter house ... this is where the monks were punished if they had "sinned" or broken any of the rules of their community.
8 - parlour
9 - laybrothers' dormitory
10 - reredorter
11 - malthouse & bakehouse ... monks were able to bake their own bread, brew their own beer and make their own wine.
12 - refectory
13 - warming house
14 - meat kitchen
15 - monks' dormitory & novice quarters
16 - abbot's lodgings
17 - visiting abbot's lodgings
18 - infirmary

author: Adrian de Montfort

More pictures of Kirkstall Abbey