Monks at Westminster Abbey source activity

Look closely at a range of images and objects, all of which can be found at Westminster Abbey, to explore the lives of monks before and after the dissolution of the monasteries. Encourage students to use this activity to think about the work and role of monks at Westminster Abbey in the past, and to consider how they were forced to leave during Henry VIII’s Reformation, using historical inquiry questions to encourage discussion and critical thinking.

Learning objectives

• To understand that Westminster Abbey was established as a Catholic monastery and to learn about the lives of the monks who lived there
• To learn that during the reign of Henry VIII Westminster Abbey was closed as part of the dissolution of the monasteries
• To look closely at objects and images and make observations about life in the past
• To use Westminster Abbey’s collection as a primary and secondary historical source