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astle Life
edieval castles were homes and fortresses. They were designed to protect the lord who
became much stronger and longer-lasting when they were built with stone.
ithin the castle, you might find a Guard Hall. The Guard Hall was where soldiers and
servants would spend their time. It was often their living room, dining room, and
bedroom all in one! Windows were usually covered with wooden shutters. Around the
13th century, windows began to have glass panes. There was usually a fireplace or
hearth in the Guard Hall that was used for cooking and heating.
he Great Hall -- or the Hall -- was where the work of the rulers or lords took place. At
one end of the room was a raised platform and a long table where the lord would
conduct business. Feasts were usually held in the Great Hall. During the feast, the
noble and his family were usually seated on the platform. Food was often cooked in the
Hall over a central fire or over a fire in the fireplace. Fireplaces began to appear around
the 13th century. Before the fireplace, fires were on a hearth in the center of the room.
The hearth was usually surrounded by stone, brick, or slate. The smoke escaped
through a structure in the roof. The Great Hall was most often on an upper floor of the
castle, but sometimes it was found on the ground floor. Some Halls had a Minstrel
Gallery that was raised above the room so that performers could be seen and heard.
he kitchen was where much of the food eaten in the castle was prepared. It was
typically located near the Great Hall. The kitchen had a fireplace or hearth where the
cooking was done. Utensils often hung from the walls. You might also find a table and
some stools. For very large feasts, a temporary kitchen was sometimes set up near the
garden.
hambers were the rooms used by the castle family and their guests. The Great
Chamber -- or Solar -- was the private area of the lord and his wife. Sometimes there
were upper chambers where other members of the family would sleep. The chambers
were usually furnished with a bed that had a feather mattress, a chest that held clothing
and personal items, and maybe a chair or stool.
he Garderobe was located very close to the chambers. The Garderobe was the toilet. It
was usually built into the castle wall and waste drained into the moat or somewhere
outside the castle.
any castles also had a Chapel where the noble and his family would worship. The
gardens were also special places within the castle grounds. Vegetables and flowers
were grown there. Many plants were used for dye for materials and medicine, and
plants like the flax were turned into material for clothing.
became much stronger and longer-lasting when they were built with stone.
ithin the castle, you might find a Guard Hall. The Guard Hall was where soldiers and
servants would spend their time. It was often their living room, dining room, and
bedroom all in one! Windows were usually covered with wooden shutters. Around the
13th century, windows began to have glass panes. There was usually a fireplace or
hearth in the Guard Hall that was used for cooking and heating.
he Great Hall -- or the Hall -- was where the work of the rulers or lords took place. At
one end of the room was a raised platform and a long table where the lord would
conduct business. Feasts were usually held in the Great Hall. During the feast, the
noble and his family were usually seated on the platform. Food was often cooked in the
Hall over a central fire or over a fire in the fireplace. Fireplaces began to appear around
the 13th century. Before the fireplace, fires were on a hearth in the center of the room.
The hearth was usually surrounded by stone, brick, or slate. The smoke escaped
through a structure in the roof. The Great Hall was most often on an upper floor of the
castle, but sometimes it was found on the ground floor. Some Halls had a Minstrel
Gallery that was raised above the room so that performers could be seen and heard.
he kitchen was where much of the food eaten in the castle was prepared. It was
typically located near the Great Hall. The kitchen had a fireplace or hearth where the
cooking was done. Utensils often hung from the walls. You might also find a table and
some stools. For very large feasts, a temporary kitchen was sometimes set up near the
garden.
hambers were the rooms used by the castle family and their guests. The Great
Chamber -- or Solar -- was the private area of the lord and his wife. Sometimes there
were upper chambers where other members of the family would sleep. The chambers
were usually furnished with a bed that had a feather mattress, a chest that held clothing
and personal items, and maybe a chair or stool.
he Garderobe was located very close to the chambers. The Garderobe was the toilet. It
was usually built into the castle wall and waste drained into the moat or somewhere
outside the castle.
any castles also had a Chapel where the noble and his family would worship. The
gardens were also special places within the castle grounds. Vegetables and flowers
were grown there. Many plants were used for dye for materials and medicine, and
plants like the flax were turned into material for clothing.