The Dissolution of the Monasteries

In 1536 there were over 800 monasteries, nunneries and friaries in England and Wales. By the end of 1540 there were none.

In 1534 King Henry VIII made himself supreme head of the Church in England in place of the Pope. All monks and nuns were made to swear an oath accepting the King as their new leader. Most did, but those that refused were hung, drawn and quartered - a slow and painful way to die.

In 1535 the King's chief minister, Thomas Cromwell, ordered a valuation of all church property. After this each monastery was visited to find out if the monks and nuns were living as they should. The report said that there were wrong things happening in many places. This was the excuse the king wanted to shut them down and take their land and money.

In 1536 he started to close all the monasteries, starting with the smallest. The last to go was Waltham Abbey in Essex which shut on 23rd March 1540.

The monks and nuns were each given a small pension to live on. Some monks became parish priests, while many nuns married and lived normal lives. An abbot or abbess was given a house and a bigger pension.

Cromwell became very rich, but he did not live to enjoy it. He upset the king and was executed in 1540.