yeah, lots of them were monasteries--and lots of the country homes that are called 'abby' were once abbies.

a good many ceased being monasteries and abbies when Henry the VIII took over catholic church's (and created C of E)
but monasteries and abbies were abandon for various reasons long before HVIII.

monastaries often served as hotels, schools, town halls, and other civic functions.

(the ministered to the poor, the ill, and provide clerks (the were often the only literate people in a small town.)

they knew (a little at least) latin, and had almanacs to tell time (and rang out the hours on church bells that served as 'timekeepers' to everyone.

even in the bronx in the 1950's church bells sounded the hours.. (and i was expected to be home after they rang 6PM--with no excuses!)

the monks often kept bee's (for bee's wax candles for church) and sold honey.. they were brewers too, and had bakeries.. (most small cottages didn't have ovens.. just hearths.) they made "small ale" too. and wine..

generally they were very useful places.. but they did fail sometimes (if they pissed off the local lord (or worse the king!) they could be taxed out of existance..

(or they could be awarded orphans to care for.. with a very small stipend to pay for the orphans care. they couldn't refuse to take in an orphan, and if awarded a few dozen, the resourses of the monastary could be overwhelmed (to the point of failure.) once that happened, the monastary might be taken over by a lord, or town, or others for some other used (and still be called, the monastary (or minstery)
just as you often call a neighbors home by the name of the previous owner (you know, they live in the old smith place sort of thing.)

there is a great series of books (by Frances & Joseph Gies)
about "life in.. "
"a medieval villiage"
"a medieval castle"
"a medieval city"

and a book about "castles, forges and waterwheels"
and "Marriage and Family in Medieval Times" and others..

(i haven't read every book in the series, but they are great.)
(one fact i remember.. just as parking is a problem in modern cities, it was a problem in medieval cities. trades men, farmers, all sorts of folk came to the city to do business. the cities had narrow streets, and few open places to park a farm wagon, or a coach, or any even a hand pulled 'barrow"... cities were bound by 'walls' and were always crowded!-- cities are (and always have been)congested!

my other obsession