What is a medieval great hall?
What is a medieval great hall? The baronial hall, also known as the Great Hall, was the stately hall used for ceremonial occasions in medieval and Renaissance castles and manor houses.
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.
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 big were castle Great Halls?
The dimensions of the Great Hall very much depended on the size of the castle, and these came in all sizes, of course. An early but typical example, now in ruins, is the Great Hall of Chepstow Castle in Wales, built between 1067 and 1090 CE, which measured 30 x 12 metres (100 x 40 ft).
What is the entrance hall of a castle called?
Gatehouse. The castle gatehouse was a fortified entrance building set into the curtain walls, constructed around the castle gate.