Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Black Death

The Norman-era church, named Romsey Abbey, now serves the parish. Until the Dissolution of the Monasteries it was the church of a Benedictine nunnery. The church was originally built during the 10th century. The religious community continued to grow and a village grew around it. Both suffered already in the 10th century, when Viking raiders sacked the village and burnt down the original church in 993. However, the abbey was rebuilt in stone in around 1000 and the village quickly recovered. The abbey and its community of nuns flourished and was renowned as a seat of learning – especially for the children of the nobility. In Norman times a substantial, new stone abbey was built on the old Anglo-Saxon foundation (circa 1130 to 1140). In this general period, the community prospered and by 1240 the nuns numbered more than 100. The abbey continued to grow and prosper until the Black Death struck the town in 1348. While it is thought that as much as half of the population of the town – which was then about 1,000 – died as a result, the number of nuns fell by over 80% to 19. 72 nuns died including Abbess Johanna. This so affected the area that the overall prosperity of the abbey dwindled. Although the community of nuns itself was forcibly dispersed in the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the abbey buildings were not demolished. This was because the abbey church had a substantial section dedicated to St Lawrence which served as a place of worship for the townspeople. The tombs of John and Grissell St Barbe in the back and in front that of Earl Mountbatten of Burma (1900-1979).

The Norman-era church, named Romsey Abbey, now serves the parish. Until the Dissolution of the Monasteries it was the church of a Benedictine nunnery. The church was originally built during the 10th century. The religious community continued to grow and a village grew around it. Both suffered already in the 10th century, when Viking raiders sacked the village and burnt down the original church in 993. However, the abbey was rebuilt in stone in around 1000 and the village quickly recovered. The abbey and its community of nuns flourished and was renowned as a seat of learning – especially for the children of the nobility. In Norman times a substantial, new stone abbey was built on the old Anglo-Saxon foundation (circa 1130 to 1140). In this general period, the community prospered and by 1240 the nuns numbered more than 100. The abbey continued to grow and prosper until the Black Death struck the town in 1348. While it is thought that as much as half of the population of the town – which was then about 1,000 – died as a result, the number of nuns fell by over 80% to 19. 72 nuns died including Abbess Johanna. This so affected the area that the overall prosperity of the abbey dwindled. Although the community of nuns itself was forcibly dispersed in the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the abbey buildings were not demolished. This was because the abbey church had a substantial section dedicated to St Lawrence which served as a place of worship for the townspeople.

The Norman-era church, named Romsey Abbey, now serves the parish. Until the Dissolution of the Monasteries it was the church of a Benedictine nunnery. The church was originally built during the 10th century. The religious community continued to grow and a village grew around it. Both suffered already in the 10th century, when Viking raiders sacked the village and burnt down the original church in 993. However, the abbey was rebuilt in stone in around 1000 and the village quickly recovered. The abbey and its community of nuns flourished and was renowned as a seat of learning – especially for the children of the nobility. In Norman times a substantial, new stone abbey was built on the old Anglo-Saxon foundation (circa 1130 to 1140). In this general period, the community prospered and by 1240 the nuns numbered more than 100. The abbey continued to grow and prosper until the Black Death struck the town in 1348. While it is thought that as much as half of the population of the town – which was then about 1,000 – died as a result, the number of nuns fell by over 80% to 19. 72 nuns died including Abbess Johanna. This so affected the area that the overall prosperity of the abbey dwindled. Although the community of nuns itself was forcibly dispersed in the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the abbey buildings were not demolished. This was because the abbey church had a substantial section dedicated to St Lawrence which served as a place of worship for the townspeople. A gruesome battle scene. Some heads without bodies, some bodies without heads. At the sides, birds carry away human limbs (not visible from this perspective). A note says it is the Battle of Edington, when in 878 the army of Alfred the Great defeated the Great Heathen Army led by the Dane Guthrum.

The Norman-era church, named Romsey Abbey, now serves the parish. Until the Dissolution of the Monasteries it was the church of a Benedictine nunnery. The church was originally built during the 10th century. The religious community continued to grow and a village grew around it. Both suffered already in the 10th century, when Viking raiders sacked the village and burnt down the original church in 993. However, the abbey was rebuilt in stone in around 1000 and the village quickly recovered. The abbey and its community of nuns flourished and was renowned as a seat of learning – especially for the children of the nobility. In Norman times a substantial, new stone abbey was built on the old Anglo-Saxon foundation (circa 1130 to 1140). In this general period, the community prospered and by 1240 the nuns numbered more than 100. The abbey continued to grow and prosper until the Black Death struck the town in 1348. While it is thought that as much as half of the population of the town – which was then about 1,000 – died as a result, the number of nuns fell by over 80% to 19. 72 nuns died including Abbess Johanna. This so affected the area that the overall prosperity of the abbey dwindled. Although the community of nuns itself was forcibly dispersed in the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the abbey buildings were not demolished. This was because the abbey church had a substantial section dedicated to St Lawrence which served as a place of worship for the townspeople. Two-tongued monsters

The Norman-era church, named Romsey Abbey, now serves the parish. Until the Dissolution of the Monasteries it was the church of a Benedictine nunnery. The church was originally built during the 10th century. The religious community continued to grow and a village grew around it. Both suffered already in the 10th century, when Viking raiders sacked the village and burnt down the original church in 993. However, the abbey was rebuilt in stone in around 1000 and the village quickly recovered. The abbey and its community of nuns flourished and was renowned as a seat of learning – especially for the children of the nobility. In Norman times a substantial, new stone abbey was built on the old Anglo-Saxon foundation (circa 1130 to 1140). In this general period, the community prospered and by 1240 the nuns numbered more than 100. The abbey continued to grow and prosper until the Black Death struck the town in 1348. While it is thought that as much as half of the population of the town – which was then about 1,000 – died as a result, the number of nuns fell by over 80% to 19. 72 nuns died including Abbess Johanna. This so affected the area that the overall prosperity of the abbey dwindled. Although the community of nuns itself was forcibly dispersed in the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the abbey buildings were not demolished. This was because the abbey church had a substantial section dedicated to St Lawrence which served as a place of worship for the townspeople. On the right side of the capital there is a scroll between two people. It reads 'Robert look about you', with what one assumes is the Abbess overlooking everything with a very satisfied look on her face. The other wording on the left translates as 'Robert made me'.

The Norman-era church, named Romsey Abbey, now serves the parish. Until the Dissolution of the Monasteries it was the church of a Benedictine nunnery. The church was originally built during the 10th century. The religious community continued to grow and a village grew around it. Both suffered already in the 10th century, when Viking raiders sacked the village and burnt down the original church in 993. However, the abbey was rebuilt in stone in around 1000 and the village quickly recovered. The abbey and its community of nuns flourished and was renowned as a seat of learning – especially for the children of the nobility. In Norman times a substantial, new stone abbey was built on the old Anglo-Saxon foundation (circa 1130 to 1140). In this general period, the community prospered and by 1240 the nuns numbered more than 100. The abbey continued to grow and prosper until the Black Death struck the town in 1348. While it is thought that as much as half of the population of the town – which was then about 1,000 – died as a result, the number of nuns fell by over 80% to 19. 72 nuns died including Abbess Johanna. This so affected the area that the overall prosperity of the abbey dwindled. Although the community of nuns itself was forcibly dispersed in the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the abbey buildings were not demolished. This was because the abbey church had a substantial section dedicated to St Lawrence which served as a place of worship for the townspeople. nave

The Norman-era church, named Romsey Abbey, now serves the parish. Until the Dissolution of the Monasteries it was the church of a Benedictine nunnery. The church was originally built during the 10th century. The religious community continued to grow and a village grew around it. Both suffered already in the 10th century, when Viking raiders sacked the village and burnt down the original church in 993. However, the abbey was rebuilt in stone in around 1000 and the village quickly recovered. The abbey and its community of nuns flourished and was renowned as a seat of learning – especially for the children of the nobility. In Norman times a substantial, new stone abbey was built on the old Anglo-Saxon foundation (circa 1130 to 1140). In this general period, the community prospered and by 1240 the nuns numbered more than 100. The abbey continued to grow and prosper until the Black Death struck the town in 1348. While it is thought that as much as half of the population of the town – which was then about 1,000 – died as a result, the number of nuns fell by over 80% to 19. 72 nuns died including Abbess Johanna. This so affected the area that the overall prosperity of the abbey dwindled. Although the community of nuns itself was forcibly dispersed in the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the abbey buildings were not demolished. This was because the abbey church had a substantial section dedicated to St Lawrence which served as a place of worship for the townspeople. Corbels

The Norman-era church, named Romsey Abbey, now serves the parish. Until the Dissolution of the Monasteries it was the church of a Benedictine nunnery. The church was originally built during the 10th century. The religious community continued to grow and a village grew around it. Both suffered already in the 10th century, when Viking raiders sacked the village and burnt down the original church in 993. However, the abbey was rebuilt in stone in around 1000 and the village quickly recovered. The abbey and its community of nuns flourished and was renowned as a seat of learning – especially for the children of the nobility. In Norman times a substantial, new stone abbey was built on the old Anglo-Saxon foundation (circa 1130 to 1140). In this general period, the community prospered and by 1240 the nuns numbered more than 100. The abbey continued to grow and prosper until the Black Death struck the town in 1348. While it is thought that as much as half of the population of the town – which was then about 1,000 – died as a result, the number of nuns fell by over 80% to 19. 72 nuns died including Abbess Johanna. This so affected the area that the overall prosperity of the abbey dwindled. Although the community of nuns itself was forcibly dispersed in the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the abbey buildings were not demolished. This was because the abbey church had a substantial section dedicated to St Lawrence which served as a place of worship for the townspeople. Corbels

The Norman-era church, named Romsey Abbey, now serves the parish. Until the Dissolution of the Monasteries it was the church of a Benedictine nunnery. The church was originally built during the 10th century. The religious community continued to grow and a village grew around it. Both suffered already in the 10th century, when Viking raiders sacked the village and burnt down the original church in 993. However, the abbey was rebuilt in stone in around 1000 and the village quickly recovered. The abbey and its community of nuns flourished and was renowned as a seat of learning – especially for the children of the nobility. In Norman times a substantial, new stone abbey was built on the old Anglo-Saxon foundation (circa 1130 to 1140). In this general period, the community prospered and by 1240 the nuns numbered more than 100. The abbey continued to grow and prosper until the Black Death struck the town in 1348. While it is thought that as much as half of the population of the town – which was then about 1,000 – died as a result, the number of nuns fell by over 80% to 19. 72 nuns died including Abbess Johanna. This so affected the area that the overall prosperity of the abbey dwindled. Although the community of nuns itself was forcibly dispersed in the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the abbey buildings were not demolished. This was because the abbey church had a substantial section dedicated to St Lawrence which served as a place of worship for the townspeople. Corbels

The Norman-era church, named Romsey Abbey, now serves the parish. Until the Dissolution of the Monasteries it was the church of a Benedictine nunnery. The church was originally built during the 10th century. The religious community continued to grow and a village grew around it. Both suffered already in the 10th century, when Viking raiders sacked the village and burnt down the original church in 993. However, the abbey was rebuilt in stone in around 1000 and the village quickly recovered. The abbey and its community of nuns flourished and was renowned as a seat of learning – especially for the children of the nobility. In Norman times a substantial, new stone abbey was built on the old Anglo-Saxon foundation (circa 1130 to 1140). In this general period, the community prospered and by 1240 the nuns numbered more than 100. The abbey continued to grow and prosper until the Black Death struck the town in 1348. While it is thought that as much as half of the population of the town – which was then about 1,000 – died as a result, the number of nuns fell by over 80% to 19. 72 nuns died including Abbess Johanna. This so affected the area that the overall prosperity of the abbey dwindled. Although the community of nuns itself was forcibly dispersed in the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the abbey buildings were not demolished. This was because the abbey church had a substantial section dedicated to St Lawrence which served as a place of worship for the townspeople.

A settlement named "Comps" was known here since 909. Around 1050 the church and land of Comps were endowed to the Abbaye de la Chaise-Dieu by Raoul de Lugeac. The important Abbaye de la Chaise-Dieu, founded by Saint Robert de Turlande, had about 300 monks at that time. It was decided to found a nunnery here as a priory. The construction of the cloister and the convent buildings took place between 1052 and 1058, as the nuns moved in already in 1058. In 1487 the name was changed from Comps to Lavaudieu ("Valley of God"), so the nunnery became "Priory Saint-André Lavaudieu". After 1516 the matrons were ordered by the king and were no longer elected by the monastery community, so the strict rules of the order relaxed. In 1718 the former priory became an abbey and at the beginning of the Revolution 13 nuns lived here, all daughters of regional nobles. They were expelled and the abbey was sold. Most of the buildings were used for agriculture, large parts of the convent building were demolished. Meanwhile, the still existing buildings are carefully restored. When I visited Lavaudieu the first time, church and cloister were locked. This time I had more luck. The church was open, only the cloister was locked! The church has frescoes of which most were uncovered and restored between 1965 and 1980. Some of them are dated 1315 by an inscription. Seen here is very uncommon subject. The "Black Death" (aka the "Great Plague") walking in killing anybody, regardless rank or wealth, with an arrow. The Plague, peaking in Europe from 1347 to 1351, is estimated to have killed 30% to 60% of Europe's population.