The VillageClothes FarmingFood HomesPastimes Life in a Medieval manor:

‘Lords’ and ‘lords of the manor’ The Kingdom was divided into counties Each county was given to a vassal (lord, count, bishops, abbots or earls.) Some counties were too large to be managed and were divided again by the lord into manors Each manor was governed a lesser lord, the ‘Lord of the manor’

The Medieval Manor The Manor contained a small village which contained: The manor house Peasant’s homes The Church The Forge The mill The Alehouse The Bailiff's House The land around the manor was divided into Farming land and the commons (grazing land) Can you see how the land was divided on the map?

Medieval Farming: Everything people needed was grown on the manor. Every farmer had on the 3 large fields. It was divided into strips. This method of farming was called the Open-field system. All of the farmers grazed their animals on the commons. Commons

Medieval Homes: Peasants: Houses were built using wattle and daub method and They had thatched roofs. Many homes had only 1 or 2 rooms Fire was lit on stone slab in the middle of the floor. Windows had no glass & there was very little furniture. Family slept on straw beds. Animals and family in the house during winter for safety and warmth.

The Lord of The manor: Wealthy lords built stone castles or houses. Poorer Lords had wooden homes like the peasants but larger. It sometimes had an upstairs.

Medieval clothes and Food: Clothes: Peasants made their own clothes which were very rough and scratchy. Grew flax to make linen Spun their own wool. Silk was brought back from the Holy land by crusaders, but this was expensive cloth. Only wealthy people could wear it/

Women wore long woollen dresses and headdresses called wimple. Men wore long tunics made from linen or wool. Their shoes were made from leather, they were pointed at the top and stuffed with horsehair.

Food in the Middle Ages: The Peasants grew all of the food on the farm. Everyone was expected to help out. Meat was rarely eaten alcohol was drunk more than water. Why do you think this happened??

The peasants’ main food was a dark bread made out of rye grain., it was called ‘rye’ They ate a stew called pottage made from the peas, beans and onions that they grew in their gardens. only sweet food was the berries, nuts and honey they collected from the woods. Peasants did not eat much meat, kept a pig or two but could not often afford to kill one. They could hunt rabbits or hares but might be punished for this by their lord. This was called ‘poaching’.

Medieval Pastimes Medieval People enjoyed games and holidays. They didn’t work on Sundays or Holy days (90 days a year!) Many of the games we play today were enjoyed in the Medieval era. ‘Hoodsman blind’ was a popular game. Do you recognise any of theses games???? Did you know: our word ‘holiday’ comes from the Medieval ‘holy day’

Law and Order Bailiff in charge of keeping the peace and smoothing running of the manor. Bailiff’s jobs Collected rent and taxes Captured those accused of crime to Lord of Manor Imposed punishment on criminals Crime Stealing from Lord’s orchard. Poaching Deer (or other animals) in the Lord’s Forest. Escaping Serf Gossiping and spreading rumours. Murder

Punishment Stocks: people were put in the stocks and passers by spat and threw things at them. Ducking Stool: A gossiping woman would be tied to a chair and lowered into a river, bit by bit. Hand cut off: A thief could have their hand removed. Hanged: This was for a serious crime like murder. Dungeons: captured soldiers were kept here.

Recap: All of the people looked to their local Lord for Protection People paid taxes and rent to the local Lord. A tithe was paid to the local Priest. (this was 1/10 of the peasants crops or live stock) Everyone was responsible for producing food and looking after the manor. Many Medieval peasants never left the manor. Serfs could not marry or leave the Manor without the Lord’s consent. Sources: we know about the Middle Ages from, written sources, buildings, paintings and artefacts.