The life of a medieval monk

The spiritual life of a medieval monk has not changed much from that of a monk today and their daily timetable would have been very similar.

Today’s monks are Benedictines but the original monks at Quarr were Cistercians, with a stricter, more literal observance of the Rule of St Benedict and a very real personal poverty. They wore a white habit but were frequently referred to as “grey monks”, though in fact their habit was of undyed wool.

Medieval monasteries provided society nearly all the services we expect the State to supply today. Quarr was the hospital with an infirmary, some of the monks were doctors and pharmacists. The abbey had a library. Quarr maintained the bridge at Wootton, tide mills, salterns and a fish-house at Fishbourne. Monks from Quarr were responsible many surrounding granges and churches, including for a time Saint Nicholas' chapel at Carisbrooke Castle.

In addition to the health and spiritual needs of the Islanders, the abbey also provided defence against invasion and gun-ports can still be seen in the outer walls facing the Solent.

In modern terms one might, mistakenly, see Quarr Abbey as a monopoly where the monks controlled much of the Isle of Wight. It is true that the monastery must have been hugely influential but, as the ruins show, the monks were not rich and did not live in luxury at the expense of the Island.