History - Everyday Life in a Castle

Everyday Life in a Norman Castle

The village (and the associated manor) was the food production centre of medieval society. Lords relied on the essentially free labour of the peasant masses to fund their lavish lifestyles. The centre of these lavish lifestyles was the castle, which was dedicated to the pursuits of good food, good entertainment, and effective war-making.

Castles were usually reserved for the more important lords in Norman society, because they took so long to build (a matter of years, or even decades) and required such a large staff to maintain. Important lords, however, like dukes, earls, or barons, could have several large castles, and all the English kings after William I had many castles from the south coast to Scotland. They would rotate around these castles, spending up to a few months at each. When the castle got too dirty and supplies of game to hunt, food to eat, and ale to drink ran out, the King would move onto a new castle. When he was not resident, a full staff was still employed; a huge expense.

Castles were first and foremost designed as military installations to guard against enemy lords and, in the years immediately after the Norman invasions, native Anglo-Saxon rebellions very similar to that which occurs in Legend of Sherwood. There were, therefore, many people in the castle employed to deal with military matters. There were blacksmiths to forge weapons and iron-stuffs, armourers to dress the lord and his men-at-arms, farriers to shoe the horses, bowyers and fletchers to arm the archers, stable-hands to look after the horses and hound-boys to look after the hunting dogs, and so on. Castles would have a large garrison of men-at-arms, Knights, and even mercenaries in latter times.

The lord and his guests' enjoyment, however, was also well-provided for in the Norman castle. Horses and hounds were kept for hunting as much for war, as well as hawks and harriers. Minstrels, jugglers, acrobats and jesters were employed to entertain at meals, along with the occasional dancing bear or, on occasional saint's days, villagers dressed up with masks, called mummers.

Food was naturally important. As well as the food provided by the work of the peasants, a lord would have huntsmen who shot deer and game in the forests, fishermen to supplement the meat supply (or replace it during Lent), as well as a large vegetable garden. The lady of the castle would often tend a herb garden, as much for medicinal purposes as nutritional. A very large staff of cooks, cooks' assistants, servants, maids, and other people who helped with preparation of food, even boys to turn the spits of meat, were employed to supply the lord's lavish feasts.

	Everyday Life in a Norman Castle The village (and the associated manor) was the food production centre of medieval society. Lords relied on the essentially free labour of the peasant masses to fund their lavish lifestyles. The centre of these lavish lifestyles was the castle, which was dedicated to the pursuits of good food, good entertainment, and effective war-making. Castles were usually reserved for the more important lords in Norman society, because they took so long to build (a matter of years, or even decades) and required such a large staff to maintain. Important lords, however, like dukes, earls, or barons, could have several large castles, and all the English kings after William I had many castles from the south coast to Scotland. They would rotate around these castles, spending up to a few months at each. When the castle got too dirty and supplies of game to hunt, food to eat, and ale to drink ran out, the King would move onto a new castle. When he was not resident, a full staff was still employed; a huge expense. Castles were first and foremost designed as military installations to guard against enemy lords and, in the years immediately after the Norman invasions, native Anglo-Saxon rebellions very similar to that which occurs in Legend of Sherwood. There were, therefore, many people in the castle employed to deal with military matters. There were blacksmiths to forge weapons and iron-stuffs, armourers to dress the lord and his men-at-arms, farriers to shoe the horses, bowyers and fletchers to arm the archers, stable-hands to look after the horses and hound-boys to look after the hunting dogs, and so on. Castles would have a large garrison of men-at-arms, Knights, and even mercenaries in latter times. The lord and his guests' enjoyment, however, was also well-provided for in the Norman castle. Horses and hounds were kept for hunting as much for war, as well as hawks and harriers. Minstrels, jugglers, acrobats and jesters were employed to entertain at meals, along with the occasional dancing bear or, on occasional saint's days, villagers dressed up with masks, called mummers. Food was naturally important. As well as the food provided by the work of the peasants, a lord would have huntsmen who shot deer and game in the forests, fishermen to supplement the meat supply (or replace it during Lent), as well as a large vegetable garden. The lady of the castle would often tend a herb garden, as much for medicinal purposes as nutritional. A very large staff of cooks, cooks' assistants, servants, maids, and other people who helped with preparation of food, even boys to turn the spits of meat, were employed to supply the lord's lavish feasts.

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