Explore the Charm of Medieval Houses A Historical Journey

Table Of Content

• Different Styles of Medieval Houses
• Introduction: The Charm of Medieval House Construction
• Civic architecture
• Medieval Architecture & Design: Types, Characteristics, and Buildings
• Q: What are some architectural features of medieval houses?
• Sleeping Beauty Castle
• Home Sweet Home: A Tale of Medieval Urban Housing15 min read

Thus, the medieval house, in its structure and ornamentation, became a canvas for the ambitious, an emblem of their ascent in the social hierarchy. Despite their humble appearance, cruck houses were well-suited to the needs of medieval peasants. They were cheap and easy to construct, requiring only basic tools and local materials, and could be built in a matter of days or weeks. The cruck frames were made from curved timbers that were shaped like the letter “U” and joined together at the apex of the roof. The walls were then built up around the cruck frames using wattle and daub, with the roof covered in thatch or wooden shingles.

Different Styles of Medieval Houses

The main elements of Medieval architecture can be divided into two basic categories, Romanesque and Gothic. The former is identifiable by its rounded arches, extremely thick walls, and minimal windows. On the other hand, pointed arches with plenty of windows and thinner walls (possibly supported by flying buttresses externally) are pointers to the Gothic style. Split timbering, wattle-and-daub, and early brickwork are easy identifications for less-posh buildings. An ancient holy well is half a mile from the church and it provided crystal clear water to the village.

Introduction: The Charm of Medieval House Construction

While much of the surviving medieval architecture is either religious or military, examples of civic and even domestic architecture can be found throughout Europe. Examples include manor houses, town halls, almshouses and bridges, but also residential houses. Masonry, whether in the shape of grand stones or small bricks, was the material of choice, being structurally firm, and acting as an effective thermal insulator. Unless a town was near a quarry, or fabulously wealthy, townhouses consisted mostly of wood. Many places saw the use of half-timbering, a design choice whereby the ground level was masonry or bricks, crowed with wooden stories.

Civic architecture

These varying landscapes set the stage for a rich tapestry of architectural styles and construction techniques. The design and construction of these houses were heavily influenced by the social, economic, and cultural conditions of the time. The early medieval houses were simple structures made of wood, wattle, and daub.

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In this way, the manor was a distinct societal unit with crucial legal, social and economic functions – it was therefore important for a lord to have a manor house befitting his status. The manor house was primarily the residence of a lord of the manor during the medieval period. Peasants could only look on with envy at the well-built medieval manors of the nobility, grand houses of merchants, and the castles of Royalty. The peasants would also make a hole in the top of the house’s thatched roofs so that the smoke coming from the fire in the middle of the house could go out. The merchant’s old Medieval house became a stately mansion, with spacious halls and wide-spread living-rooms, far more richly furnished than those of the feudal castles.

According to the Rus’ Primary Chronicle, a flaming apocalypse thus utterly razed Korosten. In the aftermath of the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, the majority of people in Europe relocated to rural dwellings. However, in the 8th century CE, three developments completely redefined the continent for centuries thereafter. The impact of these events affected every aspect of European societies, from politics to language and urban housing. After invading North Wales in 1282, Edward I commissioned the construction of Harlech Castle. This Romanesque-style castle’s inner walls were completed during the winter of 1283.

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Romanesque

These structures served as symbols of wealth, power, and social status, reflecting the hierarchical nature of medieval society. The type of house a person lived in often determined their place in society and the opportunities available to them. As we explore the charm of medieval houses, it’s essential to understand what life was like inside these fascinating structures. The layout and furnishings of medieval houses varied depending on the owner’s wealth and social status, but some commonalities existed across the board. Lumber was a very important part of most of the buildings during the middle ages.

A medieval manor house was primarily the main residence of a lord of the manor. As the hub of a large estate, the manor house was built according to the latest renaissance styles and featured a bastioned defensive wall around its perimeter. The original building fell into disrepair in the 19th century but was restored in the late 20th and early 21st century.

Home Sweet Home: A Tale of Medieval Urban Housing15 min read

An attached privy with a chute to a cesspit worked as the restroom in a wealthy household. However, the norm was the use of chamber pots, which may be emptied in said cesspits, or – in many cases – tossed out on the streets. Upstairs, the second story would feature a solar on the street side and a kitchen in the rear.

Essentially most of the framing of a house as well as the roof structure was made by wood. In England, Oak was used widely due to its strong resistance to humid weather. Although an important element of many buildings, solely wooden houses were not so commonly used.

Clay, mud and even animal dung were the main choices for this filling, which would usually be covered with plaster or wooden paneling and painted over. Linen or embroidery may have draped the housing interiors of the better off, and in the 14th century, rich tapestries would have further decorated these urban residences. The architecture of the following centuries was characterized by altering the Romanesque style to give way to other magnificent structures. Gothic architecture was the result and was characterized by pointed arches and buttresses to support interior walls. Cathedral walls were made thinner allowing for colorful stained-glass windows as decoration, creating a sense of wonder and awe. Romanesque and Gothic styles played across Europe and the UK–creating the Medieval ideals we still enjoy today until they gave way to the Renaissance era.

These homes offer us a glimpse into a bygone era, reminding us of the enduring qualities of human connection and resilience. Medieval houses are renowned for their unique architectural features that distinguish them from other periods in history. From timber framing to narrow windows, these distinctive elements contribute to both the functionality and aesthetic appeal of these homes. Cob, like wattle and daub is also a compound material Traditionally, English cob was made by mixing the clay-based subsoil with sand, straw and water using oxen to trample it. The earthen mixture was then ladled onto a stone foundation in courses and trodden onto the wall by workers in a process known as cobbing. The construction would progress according to the time required for the prior course to dry.

Peasant cottages were the most common type of medieval house and were typically made of wattle and daub or stone. These homes were small and cramped, with one or two rooms serving as both living and sleeping areas. Peasant families often shared their homes with livestock, which provided heat and company during the cold winter months. Life inside medieval houses may have been challenging, but it was also full of warmth, community, and rich cultural traditions.

These structures also served as symbols of authority to the lord of the manor’s subjects, a statement of his material and political superiority over the peasants who lived and worked on his land with his leave. Surviving examples of medieval secular architecture mainly served for defense. Castles and fortified walls provide the most notable remaining non-religious examples of medieval architecture.

There are also windows formed by the timber frame – two small and one larger. Inside a woman sits in a rectangular room in front of a fireplace built into the wall opposite the doorway. A small chimney stack is visible at the ridge of the roof which is constructed of a thick layer of thatch. With more money, peasants were able to afford better housing and many now lived in wattle and daub houses. Peasants’ houses from this period have not survived because they were made out of sticks, straw and mud.