As some of you may know, in August I dragged my family to England for a vacation, and then I dragged them to castles and museums. (I’m so mean.) Anyway, I had the good fortune to tour the restored apartments of Edward I at the Tower of London. A few days later I visited a peasant’s cottage at the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum. I thought it might be helpful if I shared some of my photos with you. Edward I ruled from 1239 until his death in 1307 and the cottage is dated from 1310 so these pictures will give you an idea of the disparity between the rich and poor in the same period. First, I’ll show you the king’s apartments. You’ll notice the walls are plastered and painted with a delicate ornate pattern. There is glass in the windows. Lead glass was commonly used in the living quarters of most castles, but only on the windows that faced into the bailey. Edward had his own personal chapel with stained glass windows, where he would have heard mass. His bed was luxurious even by today’s standards and the curtains would have been drawn, while he slept, to keep in the heat. He also has a fireplace in his bedroom with a chimney. The earliest known hearth with a chimney, in England, dates from 1185, but they weren’t commonly used until 15th or 16th Century. The peasant lived in misery. The family would have slept together on the floor sharing blankets and body heat to keep the cold at bay. All the fixtures are basic and serve a purpose. Every minute of the day would have been taken with providing for the family’s meager needs. You’ll notice the rustic furniture, pieces of wood hammered together to meet their basic requirements. There is also a storage area in the roof beams. This would have been safe from rats and other vermin, and is a reminder of the hardships these people faced on a daily basis. It also reminds me of the nursery rhyme ‘Rock a Bye Baby.” I hope you enjoyed my pictures.
Marlow 9/27/2014 01:12:12 am
Nice post. Looks like a great trip. I can't help thinking how smoky those peasant hovels must have been--not to mention flammable.
Marlow
9/27/2014 01:28:04 am
Thanks Linda, I agree, very smokey. Although the museum used thatch for the roof they did point out that it could have been made of sod and moss. That and the rain in England, (It rains nearly every day.) would have made it less flammable.
Barbara Bettis
9/27/2014 02:11:27 am
Great photos Marlow! Love the information, too. What a fantastic trip you must have had!! The peasant huts--smoky, flammable, and smelly!
Marlow
9/27/2014 05:07:56 am
Thanks Barbara, it's cold in England and I mean overwhelmingly damp and cold. Looking at those living conditions it makes you wonder how they survived.
Lisa Hannah Wells
9/27/2014 08:42:00 am
Great post and wonderful pictures! I'm hoping one day to be able to take a trip like that. I've often had dreams where I was the lady of a magnificent castle overlooking steep cliffs with sprays of the Ocean. Being of Irish ancestry, I wonder how much is genetic memory. Great trip and terrific information.
Marlow
9/27/2014 12:26:14 pm
Hi Lisa, 9/27/2014 10:26:34 am
I'm sure you must have had a wonderful vacation!!! Great contrast story with pictures, pretty unbelievable, huh? I mean, if you've studied medieval history, you know this, but seeing it in contrast is so amazing! Kudos on a really intriguing blog.
Marlow
9/27/2014 12:28:06 pm
Thanks Hebby,
Mary Morgan
9/27/2014 10:47:47 am
Well, the next time you want to drag someone with you, give me a shout-out, lol!! Thank you for sharing. I love reading your posts on medieval life.
Marlow
9/27/2014 12:32:27 pm
LOL Mary, Thanks. 9/28/2014 03:46:31 am
Loved the pictures. I would go to England to tour the country every year if I could. Hope you had a great time. The people there are so nice.
Marlow
9/28/2014 04:02:27 am
Thanks Louise, I'm glad you liked the pictures. Yes, the people are great there. 9/28/2014 11:16:33 am
Hey Marlow! Great post. I really enjoyed seeing the contrast. This is why I've always said if I lived back then I would have to have been a Lady - there is no way known I would have survived being a serf.
Marlow
9/28/2014 11:30:54 am
LOL. We all think If we were to travel back in time we would be treated as the lady of the manner. But the truth is we would be all but useless because we have no useful skills, we'd only be good for manual labor. Just as if someone travelled to our time from they would have a hard time adapting to our way of life. We'd even have to explain how to flush a toilet. Comments are closed.
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