1. The Luttrell Psalter Daily life of Peasants

2. What is a Psalter? Psalms are 150 ancient songs, grouped together in the Old Testament book called, “Psalms” Many people in the Middle Ages learnt to read by being taught the Psalms. Because of this, the Book of Psalms were often written out in separate book called a Psalter. As well as the Psalms, a Psalter would also included the the church feast days & various types of prayers.

3. The Luttrell Psalter Illustrated sometime between c. 1320-1340 (14 th Century) 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 Irnham estate. Sir Geoffrey Luttrell was lord of the manor at Irnham, Lincolnshire. He owned many other estates throughout England, so was a wealthy land owner. For more information: http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/sacredtexts/luttrellpsalter.html http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/sacredtexts/luttrellpsalter.html

4. 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!

5. 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

6. TASK 1: Open up YOUR OWN new word document and write the title: The Luttrell Psalter. Also record the date. In pairs, discuss and answer (in 2 or more sentences) the following question for each of the 10 pictures: What does this image reveal about how hard life was for the peasant farmers in medieval times? NB: Allow 5 minutes a picture

7. Stacking sheaves

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

9. Sowing in the Luttrell Psalter.

10. WEEDING THE FIELDS

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

12. Breaking clods in the Luttrell Psalter.

13. Harvest wagon from the Luttrell Psalter.

14. THREASING

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

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

17. TASK 2: In the same word document, answer the following questions about all of the images: For what purpose do you think these pictures are intended for? i.e, to show off to other Lords, or to record farming at the time. State what you think the collection of images say about the Lord of the Manor?