Did 12th century French nobles really sleep in the great hall of the castle?

History

Castles were drafty places, and the concept of having “rooms” for people didn’t yet exist. Instead, the entire household–nobility and servants alike–would sleep in the Great Hall, presumably because that’s where the fire was located so it was most warm.

Where did the nobles sleep?

Most however preferred the great hall, where it was safer and warmer. If the noble family had a separate private room, they may have had their personal servant sleep in the room with them. The servant would sleep on a pallet or trundle on the floor.

Where did servants sleep in medieval castles?

Most domestic servants would have slept in shared chambers in either the cellars or attics of the castle buildings. There might also be simple buildings outside the castle for herdsmen, mill workers, wood-cutters, and craftspeople such as rope-makers, candle-makers, potters, basket-weavers, and spinners.

Did castles have living rooms?

Even the royal and noble residences had few living rooms in the Middle Ages, and a great hall was a multifunction room. It was used for receiving guests and it was the place where the household would dine together, including the lord of the house, his gentleman attendants and at least some of the servants.

Did medieval peasants sleep on the floor?

Medieval Peasant Life
​If you were poor in medieval times, you would have slept on a hay-stuffed bag on the floor or on a simple platform. There’s a good chance your family would be sharing the bed with you, or at least be nearby; privacy was not a medieval concept.

Did nobles live in castles?

Kings and queens, highranking nobles, and wealthy lords lived in even grander structures: castles. Castles were built for many purposes. One of a castle’s main ​functions​ was to serve as a home. Castles were also one of the most important forms of military technology.

Why did lords and ladies sleep separately?

Lady Pamela explained, “In England, the upper class always have had separate bedrooms. You don’t want to be bothered with snoring or someone flinging a leg around. Then when you are feeling cozy you share your room sometimes. It is lovely to be able to choose.”

How did toilets work in castles?

The toilets of a castle were usually built into the walls so that they projected out on corbels and any waste fell below and into the castle moat. Even better, waste went directly into a river as is the case of the latrines of one of the large stone halls at Chepstow Castle in Wales, built from the 11th century CE.

Did they have glass windows in castles?

Windows were equipped with wooden shutters secured by an iron bar, but in the 11th and 12th centuries were rarely glazed. By the 13th century a king or great baron might have “white (greenish) glass” in some of his windows, and by the 14th century glazed windows were common.

Why was there straw on castle floors?

They were used in all areas of the house, including kitchens, dining halls and bedrooms. The herbs were laid on the floor along with reeds, rushes, or straw, so that pleasant odours would be released when people walked on them.



Why were medieval beds so short?

The beds were short because people slept sitting up. This was so they could have their weapons ready (swords most likely) and attack any nighttime intruders. The doors were low so that anyone coming in had to bend down when coming in. This made chopping their heads off much easier.

Why were Tudor beds so short?

If you’ve ever been on a tour of an upper-class historical home or castle, the docent probably made a point of telling the group that beds of the past were so short because people used to sleep sitting upright, leaning against the headboard.

Where did knights sleep in a castle?

the Donjon

What other rooms were there in a Medieval castle? At the time of Chr tien de Troyes, the rooms where the lord of a castle, his family and his knights lived and ate and slept were in the Keep (called the Donjon), the rectangular tower inside the walls of a castle. This was meant to be the strongest and safest place.



How did Victorian ladies go to the toilet?

Chamber pots did not always have to sit below a commode. For ease of use, Victorian women could simply hold the chamber pot in their hands, rest a foot on the top of the chair, and hold the chamber pot underneath the skirts.

Were castles clean or dirty?

Castles were very difficult to keep clean. There was no running water, so even simple washing tasks meant carrying a lot of bucketfuls of water from a well or stream. Few people had the luxury of being able to bathe regularly; the community was generally more tolerant of smells and dirt.

How did people wipe before toilet paper?

From Seashells to Communal Sponges
In very ancient times, wiping with stones and other natural materials and rinsing with water or snow was common. Some cultures opted for seashells and animal furs. A sponge on a stick, known as tersorium or xylospongium.

How did pirates poop on ships?

Ships of the line frequently included systems of pipes, septic tanks and even primitive forms of flush toilets. Archaelogical evidence reveals the existence of shipboard plumbing is attested to as far back as Roman times.

Which culture does not use toilet paper?

France, Portugal, Italy, Japan, Argentina, Venezuela, and Spain: Instead of toilet paper, people from these countries (most of them from Europe) usually have a bidet in their washrooms. A bidet like a toilet, but also includes a spout that streams water like a water fountain to rinse you clean.



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