The cloister was the heart of monastic life at Netley Abbey, where monks spent their days in study, prayer, and the meticulous work of copying manuscripts. Located south of the church, this square courtyard was surrounded by covered walkways on three sides, with the abbey church forming the fourth. The north walk served as the scriptorium, where monks sat at individual desks creating illuminated manuscripts and copying religious texts. A carved cupboard in the south transept wall held books in regular use, providing easy access to the abbey’s working library.