In addition to the daily services which occupied much of their time, we find every member of the community busy with some work specially entrusted to him.

In a well-regulated monastery idleness was impossible; the limited time permitted for leisure was usually occupied by recreation, gardening and bowls both being favourite pastimes.

Of course writing and illumination were in constant demand, and Dr.Jessop has pointed out that in addition to the production of church service books, of music, and educational work in connection with the school, "a small army of writers" must have been needed in the "business department of the scriptorium." The Benedictine rule would appear to have been framed with the idea of giving full employment to every inmate of the monastery.
Considering the wealth of the institution, consisting for the most part in land, and the responsibilities consequently incurred, we are not surprised to read that before the dissolution the Abbey of Evesham contained eighty-nine monks and sixty-five servants.

The property did not all lie in the near neighbourhood.

In the fifteenth century the Abbey of Alcester came into the hands of the Monastery.