Long into the sixteenth century monasteries remained a familiar and vital part of English society. Wherever you were in the kingdom – Yorkshire, Cornwall, London, the Lakes – it was almost certain that there was a monastery just a short walk away. 

And yet within a few short years in the 1530s, 850 of these institutions vanished for good. The dissolution of the monasteries really was, today's guest, James Clark argues, ‘the great drama of Henry VIII’s Reformation’. It was the process that had 'the most immediate impact on the largest number of people.'

In this episode Clark takes us back to 1540, a year at the very heart of this dramatic, contentious, violent story.

As ever, much, much more about this episode is to be found at our website tttpodcast.com.

James Clark is Professor of History at the University of Exeter. He is the author of the recently published book, The Dissolution of the Monasteries: A New History.

Click here to order Clark’s book from John Sandoe’s who, we are delighted to say, are supplying books for the podcast.

Scene One: Just before Easter. Canterbury Cathedral

Scene Two: 7 May, 1540 Clerkenwell Priory.

Scene Three: 4 August, 1540. Newgate Gaol, London

Memento: Epsam’s habit

Presenter: Violet Moller

Guest: James Clark

Production: Maria Nolan

Podcast partner: Unseen Histories

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