The Dissolution of The Monasteries: A Northern Miscellany

Join Keith Jewitt, as he looks into the Dissolution of the monasteries, uncovering evidence why some survived while most were destroyed.
About this Event

Monday 27th July | 1pm

THE DISSOLUTION OF THE MONASTERIES: A NORTHERN MISCELLANY

A talk by Keith Jewitt

The story of the Dissolution is one that most of us are familiar with from school. It’s usually treated as a national story and, in a sense, this all-pervading quality is part of the story. In the 1530s, central government had limited resources and the mere fact that the King and his Council were able to devise a national policy and implement it rapidly all over England was an extraordinary development. Even in England’s borderlands, frequently described as “lawless” or “debatable”, not a single monastery or nunnery remained.

Reflecting this national bias, the questions historians ask are usually focused on the capital. Who was driving policy? Was Cromwell implementing his own version of the German and Swiss Reformation, while the King hunted and tried to become a father? Was the total dissolution pre-planned, or an ad hoc response to events? How revolutionary was the use of Parliament, and did this pave the way for the later “Parliamentary democracy?”

Historians don’t altogether neglect events outside London, but they tend to use local events to illustrate the national story. The North is a partial exception to this: the outbreak of rebellion in 1536 (the so-called “Pilgrimage of Grace”) has forced scholars to think about whether the North was different. For example – how important was it that Henry VIII (unlike his father) never showed his face to northerners? Was Cromwell’s network of spies and helpers weaker up here?

Ultimately, most of the big questions can never be conclusively answered, due to lack of evidence. Keith Jewitt will survey the northern monasteries before and during the 1530s, telling individual stories behind the “bare ruin’d choirs” we can see today. He will also, where possible, highlight some survivals of buildings, people and local independence.

A LIVE Lit & Phil Event | FREE

(If you would prefer to book directly over the phone, please call the Library Desk team on 0191 232 0192 and they will be happy to help)

Image 1 | Tintern Abbey | Copyright free

Image 2 | Brinkburn Priory | Image copyright free