What life was like in a medieval village?

What life was like in a medieval village?

Most medieval villages would have a village green, a well for the drinking water, stables for horses, a stream in which to fish, a blacksmith, carpenters house, beehives and the all-important medieval inn were a medieval people could drink away all their problems with a jug of ale.

What did medieval villages have in them?

The needs of people mainly consisted of water, food, and clothing, all of which could be fulfilled with the village produce. Wood for houses and furniture, on the other hand, was provided by the forest. Fax, wool, and leather were used to make clothes and the farm implements were manufactured at the village smithy.

How was village life structured in medieval England?

For most peasants in the Middle Ages, life centered around the village. The village was usually part of a manor run by a lord or someone of noble birth or a church or an abbey. Most peasants never ventured out of the village during their lifetime.

How was life in a medieval castle?

Life in a medieval castle would have been ordered and organised, full of pomp and ceremony, and also very cold and smelly! However, of course, life in a Medieval castle would have also included military activities. On many days, knights would have practiced their skills to defend their lord – and his king – in battle.

What were the advantages of living in a medieval town?

The advantage of living in a medieval city is first and foremost security within the city walls. Then, the advantage was manifested in the business and learning opportunities provided in the cities. The village did not have these options or had them to a small extent.

Did medieval villages have walls?

Many towns had large fences built around them and the gates of these fences were locked at night to keep out undesirables. Cities such as York and Canterbury had city walls that served the same purpose – but a town would not have had enough wealth to build such an expensive protection.

What shops would be in a medieval town?

In towns in the Middle Ages there were a host of craftsmen such as carpenters, bakers, butchers, blacksmiths, bronze smiths, fletchers (arrow makers), bowyers (bow makers), potters, coopers, and barber-surgeons who both cut hair and pulled teeth. Often craftsmen of the same kind lived in the same street.

Are there any medieval towns left?

Perhaps the best-known deserted medieval village in England is at Wharram Percy in North Yorkshire, because of the extensive archaeological excavations conducted there between its discovery in 1948 and 1990. Its ruined church and its former fishpond are still visible.

Who worked in a medieval castle?

An English medieval castle, if a large one, could have a household staff of at least 50 people, which included all manner of specialised and skilled workers such as cooks, grooms, carpenters, masons, falconers, and musicians, as well as a compliment of knights, bowmen, and crossbow operators.

What was daily life like in a castle?

Life in the early castles was far from comfortable. The wind whistled through the wooden shutters in the windows and most people slept on benches or on rough mattresses in the great hall. By 1200s, castles had well furnished bed chambers and living rooms, heated by large open fires and lit by candles.