4. Castles weren't always cold and dark places to live. Castles are always depicted as dark and cold and some probably were. But, in reality, the great hall of castle had a large open hearth to provide heat and light (at least until the late 12th century) and later it had wall fireplace.

How did medieval castles stay warm?

Thick stone walls, tiny unglazed windows and inefficient open fires made the classic castle something of a challenge to keep warm. ... By heating the stones as well as the chamber, and directing the smoke away from the room, these fireplaces made life in a medieval castle a considerably more comfortable affair.

Why are castles so cold?

The main purpose of a medieval castle was defensive. It was a fort built strong enough to withstand military attack. Potential attacks could be from fire, gunshot, explosion or even tunneling beneath the castle walls. ... The result is that castles are generally cold and damp.

What were castles like in the Middle Ages?

A typical European castle was like a little village inside, with kitchens, workshops, gardens, stables, and a chapel. This castle is built of stone, but many early castles were wooden.

Are castles hot in summer?

Medieval Castles kept cool during the summer due to their thick walls and high ceilings. ... Interestingly, most live-in castles were built during the Little Climatic Optimum (between 800-1300), when average temperatures tended to be a little higher.

What Life Was Like In Medieval Castles

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Did medieval castles have toilets?

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. ... The protruding shaft of masonry that made up the toilet was buttressed from below or might nestle in the junction between a tower and wall.

Why did they put straw on castle floors?

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. ... In a typical medieval English monastery, for instance, the floor of the dormitory would have been strewn with rushes that were swept and replaced once or twice a year.

How did they keep castles warm?

Castles weren't always cold and dark places to live.

But, in reality, the great hall of castle had a large open hearth to provide heat and light (at least until the late 12th century) and later it had wall fireplace. The hall would also have had tapestries which would have insulated the room against too much cold.

What were cats and dogs used for within castles?

Cats and dogs were kept in castles to help kill rats and keep them from eating the grain stores.

How did medieval people build castles?

Workers use horse-drawn wagons to haul the stones from the quarry to the building site. Stone masons then chisel the raw stone into blocks. Workers use man-powered cranes to lift the finished stones to the scaffolding on the castle wall. Other workers make mortar on the site from lime, soil and water.

Did castles get hot?

Fires were a big part of warming castles, yes. Early on, castles had central open hearths in the great hall, but in the later Middle Ages the fireplace was invented, which moved the fire out of the way and provided a better way to control smoke.

Were medieval castles painted?

The interior walls were usually plastered and painted, often with elaborate frescos and bright, expensive colours. Ultimately, the castle was a symbol of its owner's wealth and power.

Do people still live in castles?

The funny thing is, there are a surprising number of historic castles still in use today. These medieval castles are not only still standing, they remain private residences (at least in part) to families that can trace their lineage back through the centuries.

How did medieval peasants survive winter?

People wore extra-warm clothes inside and, when possible, stayed by the fire. Woolen coats, scarfs and mittens were common. Some lined their winter clothes with fur. ... Peasants could collect the pelts of the small game their lord allowed them to catch and process them to make warmer clothes.

How did medieval people deal with snow?

Medieval people did many of the things we do: they played in the snow, they enjoyed sledding, and ice skated (on pieces of polished wood or horse shin bones). Indoors, the most popular past times were games like chess and backgammon.

Did medieval castles have windows?

Windows in a real castle are rarely seen below the top floor, although they have been added in later times in many castles. Renaissance windows were added to many medieval castles. Early windows were not large, and often were not glazed. ... Early windows often had stone seats built into the castle walls next to them.

Did people have pets in medieval times?

Medieval people kept pet dogs, cats and other animals. ... Pets were a rarity in the medieval world – people in the Middle Ages did keep domestic animals like dogs and cats, but most of them served a purpose. Dogs would be used to guard homes or assist in the hunt, while cats were needed to catch mice and other vermin.

What did medieval people name their dogs?

Based upon various Medieval texts, we know that Sturdy, Whitefoot, Hardy, Jakke, Bo, Terri, Troy, Nosewise, Amiable, Nameles, Clenche, Bragge, Ringwood and Holdfast were all popular dog names, Medievalists.net reports.

What did dogs look like in medieval times?

They came with long hair and short, the smooth-coated being more common, and extremes of build such as dachshund legs were not to be found. Ears might be short or drooping and tails were worn long, our ancestors apparently seeing nothing indecent in a normal tail.

What did it smell like in the medieval times?

An episode of the 2011 BBC TV documentary Filthy Cities describes the streets of London in the 1300s. They were ankle-deep in a putrid mix of wet mud, rotten fish, garbage, entrails, and animal dung. People dumped their own buckets of faeces and urine into the street or simply sloshed it out the window.

How were medieval homes heated?

Peasants of theses ages normally used a fire pit in the middle of the room to keep warm. Smoke would blow out of a hole in the middle of the roof. The home was usually quite smoky, but that was a small price to pay to keep their families warm. Other than having a fire, people had animal heat to depend on.

Did knights live in castles?

In most cases, knights lived with lords in their castles. ... knights who were granted fiefdom by the king were known as Vassals. The medieval orders of knights who had built their own castles also lived in the castles. However, sometimes knights would also live in small cottages in the village.

Did they have carpet in medieval times?

The practice of covering floors with rushes was a a real threat to hygiene and health during the Medieval times. Following the Black Death a limited number of carpets and mats were introduced to replace the floor rushes but floors strewn with straw or rushes were still favoured.

Did medieval houses have dirt floors?

Not all medieval floors were equal. In most houses, the floors of the rooms on the ground floor were simply beaten earth. ... As many people as the householder could get would walk on the floor for an afternoon (or longer) until it was flat and smooth.

What does rushes on the floor mean?

Rushbearing is an old English ecclesiastical festival in which rushes are collected and carried to be strewn on the floor of the parish church. The tradition dates back to the time when most buildings had earthen floors and rushes were used as a form of renewable floor covering for cleanliness and insulation.