Consequences of the dissolution?

Henry charged with cultural vandalism, result of wholesale destruction of magnificient Gothic Church buildings, along with the loss of books, images and reliquaries

Henry charged with squandering wealth acquired through the sales of monastic lands. May 1543, rush to sell land so that the profits could be used to finance war with Scotland and France (1542-6)

Invested newly found wealth in cause of education, new cathedral grammer schools set up in Canterbury, Carlisle, Ely, Bristol, Chester. 

Also establishing Christ Church, Oxford and Trinity College, Cambridge

Majority of monks and friars found alternative paid employment within Church. 6,500/8,000 moved on supplied with pensions. however the rest were left in hardship

2,000 nuns were not allowed to marry nor become priests

Detrimental effect on poor, agrivated an already worsening problem

Over half of monastic lands remained in Henry's possesion in 1547, the Crown made £800,000 from sales, mostly in cash. 

However this spared subjects harsher taxation

Major outlay of money £2 million(ish)

Sale of monastic lands, transfered power- hands of laity. Power of patronage now lay with Squires, JP's and chief landlords.

Landownership extended down the social ladder, 'the rise of the gentry' 

Land transferred into the hands of men already established in the countryside