Medieval public health in monasteries

• Monasteries and abbeys


  • Often located near rivers or isolated
• Water delivery


  1. Redirect and river to ensure a reliable supply to mills

  2. Deliver pure water to kitchens, bakeries and brew houses
• Washing facilities

  • Pipes
  • Wash basins (or lavers)
  • Filtering systems
  • Lavatoriums
• Healthy routines


  • Baths
  • Washed clothes
  • Head, face and feet washed in religious ceremonies twice a week
  • Infirmaries with good supply of water
  • Leeching houses
• Wealth of the monasteries


  • People have money and land
  • Production of wool
  • Good water supply
  • Very wealthy
  • Good sanitation
• Access to medical knowledge


  • Books and Roman ideas
  • Herbs for healing
  • Simple routine/regime for life
  • Educated
  • Discipline and isolation
• 'Filth was never dear to God'
• Religious routines of cleanliness