Shh… Pass the salt: The unique sign language of medieval monks

Instructions for monastic sign language, mid-fourteenth century, unknown scribe Bury St Edmunds. Courtesy The Syndics of Cambridge University Library. Photo: Kate Wolstenholme

Living by the Rule: Contemporary meets Medieval explores the Rule of St Benedict, a deeply influential guide for communal living written in the 6^th century.

Benedict advised monks to keep silent unless speech was absolutely necessary. He suggested they could sometimes use ‘signs’ instead, so monks exploited this loophole by developing their own sign language. One unknown scribe from the mid-fourteenth century instructs monks on 198 different signs, including how to ask for a haircut and shave, more ale, and extra blankets.

This film re-enacts some of the signs that the monks at Bury St Edmunds used in the refectory – including salt, apple, condiments, bread and more.

Living by the Rule: Contemporary meets Medieval, 16 May – 4 October 2026, brings together extraordinary objects from medieval monastic contexts with a fascinating selection of contemporary artworks, and reflects on the ‘rules’ that we live by today.

Filming and editing: Kate Wolstenholme