What was a great room used for in a castle?
What was a great room used for in a castle? The great chamber was at the dais end of the hall, usually up a staircase. It was the first room which offered the lord of the household some privacy from his own staff, albeit not total privacy. In the Middle Ages the great chamber was an all-purpose reception and living room.
What is a great room in a castle?
Toggle text. Life in a medieval castle centered on the great hall, the castle's main room. Here the lord would eat, entertain guests, and conduct business. Each day, the lord and his family would enjoy a huge meal, waited on by pages and servants.
Why do castles have teeth?
These upright projections resemble teeth, bared at invaders to prevent their attempted entries and at allies to show the owner's strength.
Why did castles have high walls?
If attackers managed to break through this outer ring of defense, castle defenders could retreat behind high inner walls. Corner towers stood out from the walls, giving defenders a better perspective on enemy movements. Windows were rare; instead, slits called loopholes were built for archers.
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.
Why do castles have secret rooms?
These were often used as a means of escape or as a way to move around the castle undetected. The secret passages could be used as an escape route in case of a siege or an invasion, or as a way to move around the castle without being seen by enemies.
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?
Where did servants sleep in medieval 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 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 was the most important room in any castle?
The most important room in a castle was the Great Hall. This is where all the members of the household sat down to eat at tables set up for every meal. It was where feasts were held for special days, or when there were guests. King Arthur's Pentecost Feast takes place in such a Hall.
What was the most important room in medieval homes?
The great chamber was the second most important room in a medieval or Tudor English castle, palace, mansion, or manor house after the great hall. Medieval great halls were the ceremonial centre of the household and were not private at all; the gentlemen attendants and the servants would come and go all the time.
Do castles have secret rooms?
Some buildings have secret areas built into their original plans, such as secret passages in medieval castles, designed to allow inhabitants to escape from enemy sieges. Other castles' secret passages led to an underground water source, providing water during prolonged sieges.
Why do castles have windows?
While castles had windows to let in light and for ventilation, early medieval castles did not have glass windows. Glass was expensive and was heavily taxed, so having glass windows cost the owner of the castle a considerable amount of money. In addition, they could be easily broken, so they were not great for defense.
Do any royals still live in castles?
A Royal home and fortress for over 900 years, Windsor Castle, the largest occupied castle in the world, remains a working palace today.
What were the different rooms in a castle used for?
Bed chambers are now known as bedrooms. Latrines have become lavatories and bathrooms. Halls have morphed into entrance halls and dining rooms have taken over one of their main functions. Solars, Cabinets and Boudoirs have become sitting rooms, libraries and dressing rooms.
What is the most famous room in Buckingham Palace?
Of all of them, one is perhaps the most important: the 1844 Room. It's where Queen Elizabeth and the royal family often receive their most distinguished visitors, from the Obamas, to President Xi Jinping of China, to Angelina Jolie.