Did medieval castles have gardens?


Did medieval castles have gardens? Other important medieval gardens were functional, including kitchen gardens, infirmary gardens, cemeteries, orchards and vineyards. Monasteries, castles and even with individual homes provided space for these gardens.


How did medieval castles get food?

The foodstuffs came from the castle's own animals and lands or were paid to it as a form of tax by local farmers.


Did medieval castles have farms?

Why were farms placed outside castles instead of inside castles during medieval times? This was due to the added cost and labor involved in building fortified walls to enclose a large space, and the difficulties of defending a larger area.


Did castles grow their own food?

They did not enclose corn fields and cattle pastures inside the walls of a castle. Such walls would be too long and need too many people to defend. Most of the food during a siege came from supplies.


What did castle toilets empty into?

In the medieval period luxury castles were built with indoor toilets known as 'garderobes', and the waste dropped into a pit below. It was the job of the 'Gongfarmer' to remove it – one of the smelliest jobs in history?


Did medieval castles have kitchens?

In a medieval castle, kitchens were an important feature as the Lord of the manor would often throw grand banquets and lavish feasts. In many medieval castles, the kitchen location is below the Great Hall as in the photo above.


When did we stop living in castles?

By the 1600s, people didn't want to live in cold and damp castles anymore. Kings, queens and noble men wanted to show off how important and rich they were so they built palaces and great houses. Many existing castles were replaced with much grander homes.


How did castles get rid of waste?

Castle toilets, also known as garderobes or latrines, would have a plank of wood with a hole held on stone supports through which waste could be deposited.


Did medieval castles have living rooms?

In the Middle Ages the great chamber was an all-purpose reception and living room. The family might take some meals in it, though the great hall was the main eating room. In modest manor houses it sometimes also served as the main bedroom.


Why were castles no longer built after the Middle Ages?

After the 16th century, castles declined as a mode of defense, mostly because of the invention and improvement of heavy cannons and mortars. This artillery could throw heavy cannonballs with so much force that even strong curtain walls could not hold up.