The Luttrell Psalter Illustrated in the early 1300’s. These pictures show what daily life was like in medieval times. There are 309 illustrations in all, commissioned by Sir Geoffrey Luttrell to show daily life on his estate. By Mr Webb

Points to note… Since it was commissioned by the Lord of the Manor, the artist designed the illustrations to please the Lord, not those in the pictures. Clothes would have been colourless. The peasants would not have been so clean. …but the work was still hard!

These pictures show: STACKING SHEAVESSOWING THREASHINGWORKING IN WINDMILL HARROWING (Covering the seeds with soil after sowing HARVESTING WEEDINGBREAKING CLODS (bigger bits of soil after ploughing) REAPINGWORKING IN THE WATERMILLS

TASK: In groups of four, answer the following questions: How do these pictures show how hard life was for the peasant farmers in medieval times? For what purpose are these pictures intended for? i.e, to show off to other Lords, or to record farming at the time? How reliably do they show life in Medieval times? Once you have finished looking at the pictures, state what you think they say about the Lord of the Manor? You have THREE minutes on each picture.

Stacking sheaves

The British Library Illustration of harrowing from the Luttrell Psalter. ©2000 Fathom, Inc.

Sowing in the Luttrell Psalter.

WEEDING THE FIELDS

The British Library Illustration of reaping from the Luttrell Psalter. ©2000 Fathom, Inc.

Breaking clods in the Luttrell Psalter.

Harvest wagon from the Luttrell Psalter.

THREASING

The British Library Illustration of a watermill from the Luttrell Psalter. ©2000 Fathom, Inc.

The British Library Illustration of a windmill from the Luttrell Psalter. ©2000 Fathom, Inc.