The Home of the Monk: An Account of English Monastic Life and Buildings in the Middle Ages

The Home of the Monk: An Account of English Monastic Life and Buildings in the Middle Ages is a book written by D. H. S. Cranage. The book provides a comprehensive overview of the lives of monks in England during the Middle Ages, as well as the architecture and design of their monasteries. The author explores the daily routines of monks, including their religious practices, work, and leisure activities. He also delves into the social structure of monastic life, highlighting the roles of different members of the community and the relationships between them. In addition to examining the lives of monks, Cranage also describes the architectural features of monasteries, including their layout, construction materials, and decorative elements. He discusses the various styles of monastic architecture that developed in England over the centuries, and provides detailed descriptions of individual buildings and their functions. Overall, The Home of the Monk is a fascinating exploration of a key aspect of medieval English society and culture. It offers insights into the lives of those who dedicated themselves to religious service, as well as the physical spaces they inhabited and created.1926. The object of this little book is to attract the ordinary reader to the subject of English monastic buildings. The author, therefore, has begun with the cloister as the center of daily life, and has put off till towards the end a general sketch of monastic history and an account of the various Orders. The regular canons as well as the monks are included. The life and buildings of the two bodies have so many points in common that it is impossible to treat them separately. Contents: the cloister; eastern, southern, western claustral buildings; abbot's house; infirmary; outbuildings; the church; the orders; dissolution. Handsomely illustrated.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

This 1934 work provides a succinct explanation of medieval English monastic sites for the general reader or visitor. Taking each part of a typical abbey or priory, Cranage explains how it was used by its residents, supported by documentary and physical evidence. The book includes illustrations and a bibliography.