How did toilets work in castles?
How did toilets work in castles? 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?
Were there really crocodiles in moats?
From time to time, you might read stories about moats that contained alligators or crocodiles. While such creatures would provide an extra line of defense, these stories are just myths, as it would be nearly impossible for such animals to survive in a moat. Moats often did contain eels and fish, however.
What did castle toilets empty into in medieval times?
The toilets of a castle were usually built into the walls so that they projected out on corbels and any waste fell below and into the castle moat. Even better, waste went directly into a river as is the case of the latrines of one of the large stone halls at Chepstow Castle in Wales, built from the 11th century CE.
Were moats filled with sewage?
It turns out that those fairy tales you read as a child all left out a very important truth: The moats that surrounded medieval castles weren't just useful defenses against attack; they were also open sewers into which the castles' primitive waste disposal systems flushed human excrement and other foul substances.
Did medieval castles have toilet paper?
In the Middle Ages, people would make use of sticks, moss and other plants. Archaeological findings from cesspits of monasteries in Ireland and Norway included small pieces of cloth that were used like toilet paper.