Berkshire History for Kids: Abbey Stables

Where Monks kept their Horses

This is where the monks kept their horses.
Each horse was kept in a kind of room called a 'stall'.
The monks needed horses to travel to their lands and farms around the country or to 'daughter-houses' (smaller abbeys or priories which they were in charge of).
Reading Abbey had a daughter-house at Leominster in Herefordshire, 130 miles away!
The abbot might have to visit London or Windsor to attend Parliament or visit the King.
The horses might also pull carts and take abbey farm produce to market.
The stables were near one of the main entrances to the abbey. Visitors could lodge their horses there immediately they arrived.
The stables at Reading Abbey stood where the library is today.