Exploring Medieval Monasteries, part 1

A scene-setting introduction to the series looks at the beginnings of monasticism in 3rd-century Egypt with the ‘Desert Fathers’, the first true monastery founded by St Pachomius at Tabennisi in upper Egypt, and the spread of the monastic lifestyle through western Europe to reach mainland Britain. Main background image, cropped to 16:9 aspect ratio: : Steffen D, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons “Waltham Abbey remains of Abbey House“ by Alansplodge is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 “Fountains Abbey ruins seen from south-west“ is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 unported “Rievaulx Terrace“ by mattbuck is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 “Tintern Abbey and Courtyard“ by Saffron Blaze is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 “Lacock Abbey Courtyard, Wilt