The life and times in a medieval castle were not the fantasy that most people believed them to be. The earliest castles appeared in the ninth and tenth centuries. Most of these early castles were built of earth and timber (Gravett 8). A castle was a center for administering justice and dispensing hospitality. The castle was not just a fortress but also a residence and a home. Early castles were anything but luxurious (“Castles”). Hardships were plentiful, and even the wealthiest individuals often found themselves living in less than adequate quarters (Hull).

Castles were not just used by the king. A king would grant his castles to his most loyal subjects, knights or barons who fought in battle and supported their king. The kings, starting with William the Conqueror, gave their loyal knights vast estates and permission to build castles. In return, they had to control their lands as the king’s representatives, and do their best to keep the local population from rebelling (Hull). Stone castles began to be built during the tenth century. A large stone tower could become the main military and residential building of a castle. The towers, now known as keeps, were expensive to build an

The period of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries were supposedly the time of great wealth and diversity in materials, dyes, cuts and styles of garments worn by both men and women. It was assumed that if you could afford such fabric as silk, cloth of gold, and velvet, then you were more likely to be of noble birth (LaBarthe). Cloaks were often carefully draped and tucked under the elbows. Married women either wore their hair under a veil or covered by a wide band of white linen and young girls wore their hair loose. Dress became increasingly elaborate as the fifteenth century progressed. Skirts grew to such a length that the heavy folds of a royal lady’s train had to be carried by a house maiden following behind. Knights only wore armor at the very end of the Medieval period; but by the 1470’s every knight riding to battle would be covered in magnificent armor and only occasionally wore a cloak or cover (Sancha 204-205).

Even during the warmest months of the year, the castle retained a cool dampness and all residents spent as much time as possible enjoying the outdoors. Life during the Middle Ages began at sunrise, when one of the guards trumpeted the day’s start. Servants had already begun to stir, ensuring the fires were lit, and getting the morning meal underway. Since breakfast was not served until between 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM, they had a few hours to fulfill their other chores while the stews or soups bubbled in the iron pots. Once the lord and his lady were out of bed, chambermaids ventured into their apartments, swept, emptied chamber pots and washed basins, and the laundresses also began the day’s wash. The lord and the lady of the castle made sure they were tidy before they greeted their household or any guests, washing off with water from their basins while partially clothed to keep them warm. A small breakfast of bread and drink was served, and then the lord and his family entered the chapel for morning mass. Often, the lord was given more than one lordship so he had to divide his time among all of his properties. His powers were political, judicial, and also included the policing of his territory. Like his king, he could mete out punishment, collect rent from his subjects, and even mint his own coins. Ladies-in-waiting and chambermaids served the lady of the castle. She spent much of the day overseeing their work, as well as supervising the kitchen staff. In addition, the ladies were responsible for educating the young boys who, at the age of seven, came to the castle to learn religion, music, dance, hunting, reading, and writing before moving into knights service as squires. At fourteen the lord placed

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