Housing and Villages
Peasant Housing
Peasant farm workers homes were a
one or two roomed hut shared with domestic animals such as chicken and pigs.
The hut was usually dirty, sooty, smelly and dark. The toilet was a hole in the
ground outside.
Storage area: for grain and salted meats Fire place: central open fireplace was for cooking and warmth Animal pens: where the chickens and pigs were kept Cooking utensils: included some pottery bowls, jars and an iron cooking pot Dirt floor: sometimes covered with straw Simple furniture: may include a table, seat and storage box Beds: made from sacks of straw Roof: made from thatch Chimney hole: opening in the roof to allow smoke to escape and for air to enter |
Medieval Castles
Castles were often built within a lake for security reasons. Other
castles were built on island, or on the tops of hills or cliffs.
Drawbridge: could be
raised for security reasons
Guardhouse: the gate and guardhouse were always guarded Portcullis: men worked pulleys to lower the drawbridge and raise the portcullis Access bridge: anyone wanting to enter the castle would be visible to the guards for quite some time before they reached the gate Stables: horses belonging to the lord, his family and some of his knights were housed and cared for Workshops: where craftspeople such as blacksmiths, furniture makers, cobblers, armour makers and potters made their goods for the castle occupants and were trained Dungeons: prison cells Basement: the basement room of a castle tower would be used as a cool room where food (eg. Salted meat and bags of grain), wine and equipment were stored Kitchen: in the kitchen, cauldrons (big iron pots) hung over open fires and spits; sometimes a cauldron might contain a number of different dishes, each packed separately. The scullery, where dishes and pots were washed was often outside. The Great Hall: The Great Hall, with its often straw lined floor, served many purposes. It was a banquet hall, a court, a place to receive visitors, and a meeting place. In the early days of castles, it was also a bedroom for the lord and his family. The private quarters: Called solar, this was a bit like a family room or lounge. It was often next to the great hall. Main bedroom: used by the lord and his wife Garderobe: toilet Garrison: where soldiers lived, which would be packed with soldiers in time of war |