What Kind of Women Became Medieval Nuns?
In theory, the vocation of nun was open to any woman. However, in practice, nunneries could be highly selective places. Wealthier houses often operated a selection process, where women were expected to bring a substantial dowry to the House upon entry, just as they would if entering into a marriage contract. Obviously, anyone without the means to raise such a dowry would be unable to enter such a house. document.getElementById(‘adsense_placeholder_2’).innerHTML = document.getElementById(‘adsense_ad_2_hidden’).innerHTML; However, poorer houses were often glad to accept women of lesser means. The Scottish raids of 1314-1318 into the North of England, left several English nunneries, including Sinningthwaite, relying on charity to rebuild their communities. Nunneries were often places where women who didn’t otherwise fit into society, were sent, or chose to live. For example, an illegitimate female child could be brought up in a monastery, rather than with its mother. A young woman who did
