How were Scottish castles heated?

How were Scottish castles heated? Castles weren't always cold and dark places to live. But, in reality, the great hall of castle had a large open hearth to provide heat and light (at least until the late 12th century) and later it had wall fireplace. The hall would also have had tapestries which would have insulated the room against too much cold.

How did they heat old castles?

Open fires remained the chief way of heating the palaces until the age of electricity and even today you will find that in some royal and grand houses a perpetual fire in the grate is considered an indispensable tradition. However, there were other ways to keep warm.

Did old castles have toilets?

In the medieval period luxury castles were built with indoor toilets known as 'garderobes', and the waste dropped into a pit below.

When did people stop living in castles?

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.

What was hygiene like in a medieval castle?

Washing and Bathing Was Very Uncommon In medieval times, the wealthy would take a bath every other month. If you were poor, you'd be lucky to bath 4 times per year. There was no hot water so it had to be carried in through a well and then heated over a fireplace.

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.

Where did servants sleep in castles?

Most domestic servants would have slept in shared chambers in either the cellars or attics of the castle buildings. There might also be simple buildings outside the castle for herdsmen, mill workers, wood-cutters, and craftspeople such as rope-makers, candle-makers, potters, basket-weavers, and spinners.

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 medieval castles smelly damp and dark?

The first stone castles built were cold, dark, smelly and damp. Inside the castle walls, floor coverings consisted of straw rushes and, later, sweet smelling herbs to mask the smell of animal excrement, grease, rotting food and beer.

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?

How do they keep castles warm?

Castles weren't always cold and dark places to live. But, in reality, the great hall of castle had a large open hearth to provide heat and light (at least until the late 12th century) and later it had wall fireplace. The hall would also have had tapestries which would have insulated the room against too much cold.

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 castles have water accessible on all floors?

Answer and Explanation: No, the castles did not have a water supply on the floors. Please remember that these were built on hills and other elevated places and in those times, there was no power or any hydraulic system to carry water to the higher floors.

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.