Fri 18 Sep 26
Fri 18 Sep:1300; Free Entry.
Byland Abbey, Coxwold, York YO61 4BD
Heritage Open Day: Crime and Punishment at Byland Abbey - a guided walking tour of Byland Abbey led by our expert tour guide. “Misbehaving Monks: Crimes and Punishments for Cistercians†is a 1.5 hour guided tour of Byland Abbey that explores how medieval monks lived—and what happened when they broke the rules.
The talk introduces monastic life as a disciplined, religious lifestyle based on prayer, work, and strict community living. It outlines the history of Byland Abbey and the Cistercian order, including their self-sufficient economy and daily routines.
A key focus is St Benedict’s Rule, the foundation of monastic discipline, explaining how monks were corrected through a system of warnings, separation (excommunication), and, in serious cases, physical punishment or expulsion...
