The Tudor Time Traveller has arrived at On the Tudor Trail. Each Friday I will showcase a new ‘Tudor photograph’ and tell its story and history. Many of the photos will be from my own private collection taken on my ‘Tudor Pilgrimage’ trip last September.
Today’s Tudor Time Traveller location is The Cloisters in Westminster Abbey.
The Cloisters, Westminster Abbey
I took this photo while at Westminster Abbey last year and it is one of my favourites of the trip. My sister and I arrived at Westminster early one morning and so had the opportunity to walk around the cloisters before the Abbey had opened to the public. We had the place completely to ourselves, as even the staff had not yet started arriving. We strolled around and soaked in the environment, trying to imagine what it would have been like here 500 years before. We pictured the ground strewn with rushes and, although it felt cold now, the burning braziers and glass windows would have made it a much warmer place than today. The silent and serene façade hid a bustling past.
The Cloisters, mainly built in the 13th and 14th centuries, in early Tudor times were one of the busiest parts of the monastic precincts. Monks used it as a place to exercise and meditate, also providing access to the main monastic buildings.
Each of the four cloisters is approximately 100 feet in length and served different purposes. The West cloister was where novices were instructed by the Novice Master and where the washroom was located. The north walk was for private study and the south walk led to the Refectory where the monks ate. The east walk led to the Chapter House.
The Chapter House was the setting of the day to day running of the monastery and home of 14th century parliament.
The Cloisters have a very special feel. Their long history, past events and inhabitants have seeped into the walls and floors leaving behind an imprint so vivid it is almost tangible.
Source:
Westminster Abbey’s Official Website
Your photo is beautiful!!! I visited Westminster Abbey last July for second time, and I loved walk again around the cloister thinking about the past, when the abbey was occupied by monks in an early Tudor period. This new section: “The Tudor Time Traveller” will be very interesting 😉
Thank you! The Abbey, Cloisters and gardens are amazing! I really enjoyed my visit and will definitely return next time I’m in London. If you’re interested in receiving updates about new posts and articles then you should sign up to our newsletter. Makes it easier to stay in touch!
Oh, thanks for the recomendation
I have a question. What is the monument that appear in the principal photo of the blog??? I don’t recognize it…
Another one of my favourite photos! It is the Chapel of St. Mary at Sudeley Castle. Sudeley was the home of Katherine Parr and Thomas Seymour and is where Katherine was buried in 1548. Anne Boleyn visited as well! I visited the castle last year and loved it- it is beautiful! Read more about the castle and Anne’s visit here.
Oh, thank you so much for the information.
I knew about Sudeley Castle and all the history about Katherine Parr, but in my last trip to London, I hadn’t enough time to visit it…
So, the next time, I’ll included it on my tour!!! =)
That is a really cool picture! We went to London last year and I thought Westminster was gorgeous.
It is so beautiful Daphne! I look forward to returning and spending more time just wandering around.
I especially loved The Cloisters in Westminster Abbey – there is such a special feeling in the air, it sent shivers down my back standing there last November. Something very special.
It certainly is a very special place Sarah! I visited many locations on my Tudor trip last year and not all of them made it on to my ‘return visit’ list but Westminster definitely did.