What Life Was Really Like In Medieval Castles

Castles bring to mind fantasy novels, films, and TV shows depicting knights and royalty, evil clans and dragons, and fair maidens who, more often than not, pick up a sword and fight in the end. What these works of art don’t tell us is how life often went within those walls. Time to see what life was like in those massive fortresses that have seen drama, blood, and victory within its walls.

1. Sit and let gravity take over

The business was done on a long bench with many holes for other bums. Your waste fell down below to a literal cesspool. No partitions meant no privacy and you could sit next to anyone else who needed to deliver his bad news. Imagine being charged with cleaning the cesspool.

2. Forget about the walls having ears – there was no privacy

Large, open floors on the inside left little room for privacy. The lord and lady would have private chambers in which to dress and bathe, but the rest were forced to spend their days and nights with each other.

3. Dungeons meant torture

The deepest, darkest depths of a medieval castle meant that conditions were deplorable. Forget about basic rights here. Prisoners were usually taken for political reasons and should the lord or lady of the castle deem it fit, torture was in order.

4. Castles could house 100 people

Introverts during medieval times would have hated living in a castle. They didn’t have a choice as everyone played a role inside. It took lots of people to tend to the daily running of a castle.

5. Rats were regulars

Castles are dark, damp, and cold. The perfect breeding ground for rats. Everyone got used to the vermin, but they didn’t necessarily like the creatures. Rats were one of the cheapest and most effective forms of medieval torture so it worked out for the ruling family.

6. Up at sunrise

Work began at sunrise to allow the workers the maximum amount of light possible. Servants would rise before the sun, to make sure fires were started in the kitchen so that breakfast could be served immediately. And when the evening came…

7. People could drink as much as they wanted

The rich had their choice of alcohol, but the peasants were more likely to take whatever was available to them. Drinking was a necessity during this time since the water was unclean and undrinkable.

8. Wooden bathtubs

People did enjoy taking baths back then. The problem was access to clean water and a bathtub. Castles would have a wooden bathtub that they could move from room to room for bathing. It wasn’t sanitary or even remotely private, but a bath is a bath to them.

9. Castles were dark and cold

Castles are made of stones, with the focus on defense from enemies rather than comfort. Stone wasn’t exactly conducive to letting heat in and with minimal sunlight, most rooms in the castle were extremely dark and cold.

10. The smell was horrible

Bench toilets, a lack of hygiene among the lower classes, and damp stone walls meant that castles smelled horrible. Toilets offered no privacy while fresh water and a bath were often harder to come by. It wasn’t always romantic.

11. There was always a feast or party

Lavish meals were the norm in castles. The elaborate feasts and parties in TV shows and movies are pretty much accurate. It wasn’t festive for the servants who always had to be preparing meals.

12. Seating arrangements by status

In medieval times, people sat according to their status in life. The lord and lady sat at the head of the table, with their meals served first. The food for the less important guests were far less extravagant. Those in the back had to wait.

13. Rushes and herbs covered food grease and animal poop

Reeds and herbs would be strewn across the floors to help soak up all of the liquids and solids that came its way over the course of the day. All manner of filth would be revealed once the servants cleaned up.

14. Church attendance was a must

Castles had an onsite chapel where the lord and his family could attend morning mass. The chapel would usually be the only other room aside from the great hall to form the castle structure. Priests in castles were true after all.

15. Kitchen fires were common

Kitchens were often constructed out of timber. And back then, servants would cook on open fires. In time, stone became the material of choice, and hearths were built to house the flames. At least they stayed warm.

16. The lady took charge as needed

Lords would often be out on business or military matters. Which meant that the lady of the castle would often be in charge of the day-to-day domestic affairs. Of course, that meant delegating tasks to her servants.

17. Clockwise stairwells

Staircases were constructed clockwise for reasons of defense. If enemies came to attack, climbing up a staircase would limit how much they could maneuver their swords. The guards running down the stairs would be able to swing theirs, vanquishing the enemy then feasting afterwards.

18. Everyone inside had a role

Or to be more specific, everyone had a job to do. These would have included everything from cooks to gardeners, grooms and horse-men, and all important treasurers, who would look after the finances of the entire estate.

19. Castles were built to exert influence

Lords would build on lands given by the King. The lords allowed vassals to use some of their lands for their own gain. In return, the knights had to agree to provide the lord with military support.

20. Children were as loved and valued

Children of elite families spent time at court and were often educated away from home. Many elite women had wet-nurses who breastfed their babies for them. Social norms were different but children were treasured and protected inside castle walls.

21. Not always glamorous

To learn even more what life was really like living in a medieval castle, watch the very interesting video with more than 5.6 million views!

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Article Sources:

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