who used monasteries as a source of healthcare and support in times of need. The Church remained an important institution in England, but some of its influence had diminished.

Westminster Abbey is generally busy – and the staff keeps you moving at a pretty swift pace – so do a little research ahead of time to avoid missing your personal must-sees. For instance ...

Furness Abbey, on the outskirts of Barrow, Cumbria, was founded about 900 years ago and was the first of England's "greater monasteries" to be dissolved during Henry VIII's religious reforms.