Was Life Any Better in a Medieval Town

Was Life Any Better in a Medieval Town? © Boardworks Ltd 2003

How did Towns Form? After the Normans came, towns began to occur, usually alongside castles. As they grew in size and became prosperous they were able to buy a charter, a document which gave them their freedom from the lord of the manor on whose land the town had grown up. By the 12 th century, Lords of the manor were often short of money and were glad to sell the rights of the town to pay off their debts The “Town Charter” allowed the townsfolk to have a Mayor, whom they elected, and a law court of their own. © Boardworks Ltd 2003

What were Medieval Towns Like? Round each town were thick walls, for safety against enemies. The town gates were locked every night at sunset. Each town had a Town Crier who called out messages and news at the Market Cross. The streets were dirty, narrow and cobbled. Down the middle of each street ran an open drain. The front room of houses was often used as a shop. Shopkeepers nearly always sold things they made themselves. Water had to be drawn from wells or fetched from the river. You could also buy it from water-carriers, who took it round the streets in buckets. How is your town different from one in Medieval times? © Boardworks Ltd 2003

What did people do in the Towns? Men of the same craft or trade lived in the same street, and often gave their name to the street. Look at the plan of the town. What sort of occupations could you find there? Butchers’ Row Castle Silver Street Bakers Church Row Street Candlemakers Street Weavers Fish Street Row © Boardworks Ltd 2003

In the Middle Ages, few people could read, so shops used pictures instead of names. What services were these shop signs offering? Tailor Cobbler Pawn Brokers © Boardworks Ltd 2003

A Typical Town Street rubbish thrown into the street Buildings are timber framed Pigs eating rubbish in the street Upper storey overhangs to maximise space Sewage in the middle of the street Buildings are closely packed fire risk rats Shops in front room © Boardworks Ltd 2003

The Guilds To ensure quality of products and comparability of prices, craftsmen joined together in Guilds. These were like trade unions today as they helped widows and orphans, and it is known that the Carpenters’ Guild gave 14 pence a week to a member who was ill. Members of the Guilds promised to do their work well, to use good materials and charge an honest price for their work. The Guilds punished dishonest craftsmen. The Guilds also helped look after the town church and paid money for candles on the altar. The Guilds met in the Guildhall. Some of these buildings can still be found in towns, like the one below from Thaxted, Essex. Draw and colour some suitable signs for the following guilds: Goldsmiths, Bakers, Butchers © Boardworks Ltd 2003

Apprenticeship When a boy was about 14, he might become an apprentice, which meant he would learn a trade. He went to live with the master craftsman and would be trained for 7 years. He would sleep on the shop floor at night and was expected to help sell goods to passers-by. He would be paid no wages except for a small amount of pocket money. When an apprentice had learned his trade he was called a journeyman, and was paid a proper wage. If he could save enough money he might later be able to buy a workshop and become a master craftsman himself. • How skilled do you think craftsmen of the Middle Ages were? • Would you be able to change careers like you can do easily today? © Boardworks Ltd 2003

Surnames The English started using surnames sometime after 1200. The names were used to tell people the craft or trade of their owners. Here are the names of some Medieval people: Tanner Miller Weaver Fisher Baker Mason Smith Taylor Butcher Carpenter Cook Wright Can you work out what craft or trade their owners did? How many people in the class have surnames which could be related to a craft or trade? Wright is probably the hardest and is more frequently seen at the end of a name e. g. Cartwright. It basically means a handicraftsmen, especially someone who works with wood; so Cartwright is someone who makes wooden carts. © Boardworks Ltd 2003

Add as many words as you can around the picture to describe what it might have been like to live there. © Boardworks Ltd 2003

Do you think life would have been better in the countryside, or in the towns? Score each of the following from 1 (very bad) to 10 (good) and be prepared to give an explanation Score (1 - 10) explanation Eating & drinking work Getting things done Getting ill others Total score © Boardworks Ltd 2003

1. What was the importance of the town charter? • A) it gave the town an official name • B) it allowed the Lord of the Manor to keep laws in place as the towns grew • C) it gave the people who lived in the town freedom from the Lord of the Manor • D) it kept a record of the people who lived in the town © Boardworks Ltd 2003

2. Who were represented by the guilds? • • A) farmers B) shopkeepers C)

3. Which of the following was not a feature of a typical town street? • • A) drains running down the middle of the street B) single storey buildings C) timber frames D) animals living in the street © Boardworks Ltd 2003

4. What was the name given to a young person at the end of their training? • • A) master craftsman B) apprentice C) tradesman D) journeyman © Boardworks Ltd 2003

5. Which of the following is not a valid reason why towns grew up in the 1200 s? • • A) the King granted charters for towns to set up B) it was safer to be near a castle C) people started to specialise in trades and crafts D) the Lords of the Manor had less power over people © Boardworks Ltd 2003