Monastic Collection

Fountains Abbey N950001
FOUNTAINS ABBEY, North Yorkshire. Reconstruction drawing by Alan Sorrell

Naughty Nuns
Naughty nuns, respecting their vows of celibacy, but not much else

Thornholme Priory J890422
THORNHOLME PRIORY, Humberside. Gatehouse and west precinct as it may have been in mid-14th century by Judith Dobie (English Heritage Graphics Team)

Buildwas Abbey J020158
BUILDWAS ABBEY, Shropshire. Aerial view cutaway reconstruction drawing of the abbey in the 12th century by Terry Ball (English Heritage Graphics Team)

Horses pulling cart IC086_019
Reconstruction drawing by Ivan Lapper showing heavy horses pulling a haycart or goods wagon, driven by two medieval Cistercian monks

The Nave at St Augustines Abbey J990018
ST AUGUSTINEs ABBEY, Canterbury, Kent. Interior View. Reconstruction drawing of the nave of the abbey church by Peter Urmston

Byland Abbey J940485
BYLAND ABBEY, North Yorkshire. Reconstruction drawing by Alan Sorrell showing the abbey as it might have appeared in the year 1539

Castle Acre Priory J940262
CASTLE ACRE PRIORY, Norfolk. Reconstruction drawing as it might have appeared in 1537 by Alan Sorrell

Ancient monastic ruins of St. Kevin in the Wicklow Mountains, Glendalough, County Wicklow, Ireland

India, Ladakh, Thiksey. The immense and beautifully gilded Maitreya Buddha in the Chamkhang temple at Thiksey Monastery

Lindisfarne Priory J880141
LINDISFARNE PRIORY, Northumberland. Reconstruction drawing by Peter Dunn (English Heritage Graphics Team) of the Saxon church 652 AD

DRUNK MONK
A portly monk with a moustache smiles to himself as he prepares to drink a glass of wine or a similar tipple

Carthusian monks process to matins at 2 am
Carthusian monks in cowls and habits process to matins at 2 am

Fountains Abbey J940477
FOUNTAINS ABBEY, North Yorkshire. Interior reconstruction drawing by Alan Sorrell

Rievaulx Abbey J020157
RIEVAULX ABBEY, North Yorkshire. Reconstruction drawing of the Presbytery in the 13th century by Peter Dunn (English Heritage Graphics Team)

Monks Copying Manuscript
Monastic copyists replicating manuscripts in the scriptorium of their monastery

Stone Stairway, Skellig Michael, Skellig Islands, County Kerry, Ireland

Grande Chartreuse (Anon)
LA GRANDE CHARTREUSE, Carthusian establishment near Grenoble, France, founded in 1084

Charteuse Advert 1906
Though expelled from France by the Republican Government, the Carthusian monks exiled to Tarragona, Spain, continue to produce their world-famous Chartreuse liqueur

Monk Wine Cellar 14 Cent
A conscientious monk tastes the monastery wine to make sure it is ageing well and keeping in good condition, a duty which must be performed from time to time

Monk and Mug
A monk with a double chin drinking a mug of beer!

Christian ruins from 10th to 12th centuries, round tower of monastic gatehouse, Glendalough, Wicklow Mountains, County Wicklow, Leinster, Republic of Ireland (Eire), Europe

Youghal Abbey, County Cork, Ireland, from Scenery and Antiquities of Ireland
KW131453 Youghal Abbey, County Cork, Ireland, from Scenery and Antiquities of Ireland by George Virtue, 1860s (engraving) by Bartlett

Cell 8, Mount Grace Priory IC068_004
MOUNT GRACE PRIORY, North Yorkshire. Reconstruction drawing, by Claire Thorne, showing a cut-away view of Cell 8 and its garden at Mount Grace Priory

Naughty Nuns - 2
Two naughty nuns, sworn to celibacy, find compensation

Mount Athos, Greece - Holy Monastery of Iviron
Holy Monastery of Iviron or Iveron, an Eastern Orthodox monastery at the monastic state of Mount Athos in Greece. Date: circa 1910s

Kirkham Priory J030002
KIRKHAM PRIORY, North Yorkshire. Aerial view reconstruction drawing of the priory in 1538 by Peter Dunn (English Heritage Graphics Team)

Rievaulx Abbey J000103
RIEVAULX ABBEY, North Yorkshire. Interior view reconstruction drawing of the refectory kitchen in the 14th century by Peter Dunn (English Heritage Graphics Team)

Waverley Abbey N900002
WAVERLEY ABBEY, Surrey. Reconstruction drawing of interior of abbey church by Ivan Lapper

Bedes chair, an ancient oak seat between 800 to 1100 years presumed to have belonged to the venerable Bede

Monastic settlement, Glastonbury Tor J920411
GLASTONBURY TOR, Somerset. Anglo-Saxon monastic settlement. Reconstruction drawing by Judith Dobie (English Heritage Graphics Team). Anglo Saxon

Hailes Abbey J950132
HAILES ABBEY, Gloucestershire. A reconstruction drawing of the The Nave, by Terry Ball (English Heritage Graphics Team)

Whitby Abbey J010113
WHITBY ABBEY, North Yorkshire. A reconstruction drawing of the church nave in 1500 by Judith Dobie, English Heritage Graphics Team

East wall stained glass window in the Chancel depicting St Paul, Risen Christ and the Venerable Bede

Pilgrimage of Grace / 1537
The Pilgrimage of Grace, a rising of Roman Catholics in N.England. It protest against government abolition of papal supremacy and confiscation of smaller monastic properties

Nuns in Boat
A group of nuns in the launch from the Christo Rey. When the floating church goes inland the sisters go ashore to administer help and advice

St Johns Gate Clerkenwell
St Johns Gate, in Clerkenwell, Middlesex, now within central London, is one of the few tangible remains from Clerkenwells monastic past

Carthusian Monks
Carthusian monks of the tranquil monastery of La Valsainte, Switzerland, drinking from the village well, oblivious of World War Two. Date: early 1940s

Austria, Melk monastery, Church of the Abbey, Wachau Valley

Northern Ireland, Fermanagh, Enniskillen. Tthe monastic settlement and round tower on Devenish Island in Lower Lough Erne

Hailes Abbey J950134
HAILES ABBEY, Gloucestershire. A reconstruction drawing of The Refectory, by Terry Ball (English Heritage Graphics Team)

Tintern Abbey
GG37809 Tintern Abbey by Watts, Frederick Waters (1800-62); Private Collection; Photo eGavin Graham Gallery, London, UK; English, out of copyright

Ballindoon Abbey, Lough Arrow, County Sligo, Ireland; Lakefront Historic Abbey

Abbeville, France - Abbey of Saint Riquier founded in 799 Date: circa 1850s

Romania - Curtea de Arges Monastery
The Cathedral of Curtea de Arges - a Romanian Orthodox cathedral in Curtea de ArgeE, Romania. It is located on the grounds of the Curtea de Arges Monastery Date: circa 1920s

Caldey Island, Wales - The Monastery
Caldey Island, Wales off the southwest coast near Tenby - The Cistercian Monastery. Date: circa 1930s

Trier, Germany - St Matthias Abbey
Germany - Trier. The oldest City in Germany - St Matthias Abbey Date: 1909

Early morning view of the St Pauls Monastery in Jarrow with the St Pauls church in the distance

Monk with Skull, Etc
Father Leonard Parisinus, a missionary monk, with a selection of significant items - a skull, a crucifix, a missal and an empty candlestick

Plan of Canterbury Cathedral from the Eadwine Psalter, c. 1150 (vellum)
3086776 Plan of Canterbury Cathedral from the Eadwine Psalter, c.1150 (vellum) by English School, (12th century); Trinity College, Cambridge

Chapel Of Saint Kevin At Glendalough And Round Tower, Glendalough, Co. Wicklow, Ireland

Dartford Priory, Kent (engraving) (b / w photo)
XJF283102 Dartford Priory, Kent (engraving) (b/w photo) by English School; Private Collection; English, out of copyright

Throwing snowballs
A group of cheeky monks, step outside of their monastery to throw snowballs and unsuspecting passers-by

Roger Bacon / Verhas
ROGER BACON Scientist and scholar looking across the rooftops of Oxford from his monastic observatory

Medieval floor tiles DP248332
Wenlock Priory, Much Wenlock, Shropshire. Detail looking down at medieval tiles on the floor of the priorys ruined library

Monastic chronicler c. 1066 IC008 / 034
Battle Abbey and the Battle of Hastings. A reconstruction drawing, by Judith Dobie, showing a monastic chronicler c. 1066. Monk

Chapter House, Thornton Abbey IC204_004
Thornton Abbey, North Lincolnshire. The Chapter House in the 14th century. Reconstruction drawing by Jill Atherton

Cloister Walk, Thornton Abbey IC204_002
Thornton Abbey, North Lincolnshire. A view of the east cloister walk in the 1530s. Reconstruction drawing by Jill Atherton

fine arts, Gruetzner, Eduard, Ritter von, (1846 - 1925), painting "Im Braeustuebl", Additional-Rights-Clearences-Not Available Additional-Rights-Clearences-Not Available

Church Nave, Thornton Abbey IC204_003
Thornton Abbey, North Lincolnshire. Church Nave viewed from West c.1400. Reconstruction drawing by Jill Atherton

19th century illustration depicting monk of the Cluniac order
3521320 19th century illustration depicting monk of the Cluniac order.; (add.info.: 19th century illustration depicting monk of the Cluniac order.); Universal History Archive/UIG

St Dunstan at the feet of Christ
3585647 St Dunstan at the feet of Christ; (add.info.: St Dunstan at the feet of Christ. Dunstan (909 - 19 May 988 AD) was an Abbot of Glastonbury Abbey, a Bishop of Worcester, a Bishop of London

19th century illustration depicting monk of the Cistercian order
3521326 19th century illustration depicting monk of the Cistercian order.; (add.info.: 19th century illustration depicting monk of the Cistercian order.); Universal History Archive/UIG

19th century composite illustration depicting monks
3521307 19th century composite illustration depicting monks; (add.info.: 19th century composite illustration depicting monks of the Cistercian, Carthusian)

Portal from the monastery, c.1100 (photo)
KW141261 Portal from the monastery, c.1100 (photo); Monestir de Santa Maria, Ripoll, Catalonia, Spain

Portal from the monastery, c.1100 (photo)
KW141262 Portal from the monastery, c.1100 (photo); Monestir de Santa Maria, Ripoll, Catalonia, Spain

Gothic balcony in the courtyard of Klosterneuburg Abbey, c. 1840 (w / c on paper)
KLN146840 Gothic balcony in the courtyard of Klosterneuburg Abbey, c.1840 (w/c on paper) by Alt, Rudolph von (1812-1905); Stiftsmuseum, Klosterneuburg, Austria; eStiftmuseum Klosterneuburg; Austrian

Rock Of Cashel, Co Tipperary, Ireland

The Round Tower, Early Medieval Monastic Settlement, Glendalough, County Wicklow, Ireland

St. Kevin's Church and The Round Tower, Early Medieval Monastic Settlement, Glendalough, County Wicklow, Ireland

Celtic cross and St. Kevin's Church at sunrise, Early Medieval Monastic Settlement, Glendalough, County Wicklow, Ireland

Celtic Cross with Cathedral ruins in the background at sunrise, Early Medieval Monastic Settlement, Glendalough, County Wicklow, Ireland

St. Kevin's Church, Early Medieval Monastic Settlement, Glendalough, County Wicklow, Ireland

View towards the St. Kevin's Church at sunrise, Early Medieval Monastic Settlement, Glendalough, County Wicklow, Ireland

St. Kevin's Church at sunrise, Early Medieval Monastic Settlement, Glendalough, County Wicklow, Ireland

View over Glendasan River towards The Round Tower at sunrise, Early Medieval Monastic Settlement, Glendalough, County Wicklow, Ireland

View over Glendasan River towards St. Kevin's Church and The Round Tower at sunset, Early Medieval Monastic Settlement, Glendalough, County Wicklow, Ireland

The Round Tower at sunset, Early Medieval Monastic Settlement, Glendalough, County Wicklow, Ireland

The Round Tower, elevated view, Early Medieval Monastic Settlement, Glendalough, County Wicklow, Ireland

Muchelney Abbey a71_00456
Muchelney Abbey, Abbots House, Muchelney, South Somerset, Somerset, 1939. Exterior view showing the north elevation of the Abbots House at Muchelney Abbey

Undercroft DP248410
Wenlock Priory, Much Wenlock, Shropshire. Interior view of the undercroft to St Michaels tower in the priory ruins, looking along the south aisle from the east

Ireland, County Wicklow, Glendalough, ancient monastic settlement started by St. Kevin, Celtic cross and Round Tower

Europe, United Kingdom, England, Turners Hill, Worth Abbey, the interior of the abbey church by Francis Pollen, as featured in the BBC television series, The Monastery

The abbey of San Pietro al Monte, an ancient monastic complex of Romanesque style in the town of Civate, Lecco province, Lombardy, italy

For sale as Licensed Images

Choose your image, Select your licence and Download the media

"Exploring the Monastic World: From Naughty Nuns to Drunk Monks" Step into a fascinating world life as we delve into the intriguing history and captivating stories behind these iconic hints. "Naughty Nuns": Uncover scandalous tales and secret affairs that took place within the walls of monasteries, challenging traditional perceptions. "Fountains Abbey N950001": Discover the grandeur of Fountains Abbey, an architectural masterpiece nestled amidst breathtaking landscapes. "Horses pulling cart IC086_019": Witness the daily routines of monks as they relied on horses to transport goods in their secluded communities. "Castle Acre Priory J940262": Immerse yourself in medieval times at Castle Acre Priory, where echoes of ancient prayers still resonate through its ruins. "Monk Spanks Nun 17C": Unearth a peculiar historical artifact that sheds light on unconventional disciplinary practices within religious orders during the 17th century. "The Nave at St Augustine's Abbey J990018": Stand in awe before the magnificent nave at St Augustine's Abbey, once a thriving center for spiritual devotion and worship. "Byland Abbey J940485" & "Fountains Abbey J940477": Marvel at two majestic abbeys that stand as testaments to human ingenuity and dedication throughout centuries past. "Stone Stairway, Skellig Michael, Skellig Islands, County Kerry, Ireland": Ascend stone stairways carved into cliffs on Skellig Michael Island – witness firsthand how monks sought solitude in remote locations to deepen their connection with God. "Lindisfarne Priory J880141" & Thornholme Priory J890422: Explore Lindisfarne Priory and Thornholme Priory – remnants of sacred spaces where monks devoted themselves to prayer against stunning coastal backdrops. "DRUNK MONK".