Life in Medieval Towns

The Saxon Burh The Anglo-Saxons had developed the fortified settlement known as a burh. The settlement was surrounded by banks and ditches with wooden palisades on top. A number of gatehouses controlled who entered the burh. The buildings inside the burh were mostly made from wood or wattle and daub with thatched rooves. The Old-English word for a settlement was a 'tun' which over time became the word we use today, town.

Growth of Towns The number and size of towns started to grow after the Norman Conquest in 1066. Towns grew up around the new castles because of the protection given by the Norman invaders. Towns also started to enlarge at busy harbours, river crossings and major crossroads where people could set up shops to sell to passers by. There were plenty of opportunities, work and new occupations to be taken up. Tradesmen moved into the towns to supply the needs of the inhabitants.

Protection

Deep ditches and strong walls were built around the towns to protect the towns people from attack and as a sign of wealth. Strong gatehouses were constructed at intervals around the walls with drawbridges for extra protection. At night the the drawbridges were raised and the gates were shut.

Markets and Fairs

Markets and fairs were the main way in which medieval people bought and sold goods and these usually took place every week in the towns. Once or twice a year huge fairs were held in the bigger towns. These fairs could last for days and even weeks. The range of goods available was much larger than the local markets and included goods from other countries. Due to the Crusades there was much more interest in foreign goods and merchants from the East were welcomed to sell fine clothes, wines, spices and lace. One of the largest fairs in England was the Stourbridge fair held near Cambridge after the September harvest and could last for five weeks.

Taxes

Towns had to pay taxes to the king or local lord. Taxes were raised from tradesmen and visitors to the town. Gatehouses made it easy to collect taxes as everyone had to pass through a gate to enter or leave. Taxes had to be paid on all the goods that were to be sold in the markets and fairs. Where the town was next to a river the gatehouses were sometimes built in the middle of the bridges; the river acting as a natural moat.

Merchants

Guilds

In the towns traders and merchants formed guilds. The members of the guilds helped protect each others interests and also control quality ensuring all the members did work to a suitable standard. Over time separate guilds were created for each type of trade and it was common for all shops selling one type of product to be located in the same area of the town. The idea of selling one kind of product in one area still happens today. Some cities have jewellery quarters for example.

Members of the guilds paid a membership fee and the guilds became powerful and wealthy. Some guilds built their own meeting places call guildhalls where meetings and banquets took place. Guilds also helped their members if they fell ill and looked after their family after they died. Guilds used their wealth to put on plays called mystery plays that were based on stories from the Bible. The word mystery is probably a mispronunciation of a medieval word for guild or craftsmen.

Henry II recognised the powers of the guilds and wanted his share of their wealth. Henry claimed that every guild had to be licensed and pay a tax straight to the King. Any guild that was not licensed was fined.

Guilds employed in the clothing and leather industry

Guild Name	Description	Guild Name	Description
Mercers	Dealer in the textiles	Drapers	Another dealer in textiles
Fullers	Cleaners and preparers of cloth	Dyers	Cloth Colouring
Skinners	Dealer in the fur trade	Tailors	Maker of clothing
Girdlers	Maker of belts	Cordwainers	Maker of shoes
Pinners	Pin maker or assistant to dress maker

Guilds employed in the food and wine industry

Guild Name	Description	Guild Name	Description
Fishmongers	Selling fish	Vintners	Dealers in the trade of importing and selling wine
Cheesmongers	Dealing in cheeses	Fruiterers	Sellers of fruit
Cooks	Specialised in cooking	Bakers	Bakers of bread

Guilds employed construction, metals and jewelry

Guild Name	Description	Guild Name	Description
Goldsmith	Traders in gold	Silversmith	Traders in silver
Joiner	Wood workers not using nails	Founders	Workers in brass and brass alloys
Carpenters	Wood workers using nails	Plumbers	Craftsmen working with lead
Locksmiths	Makers of locks	Founders	Workers in brass and brass alloys
Ironmonger	Metal workers	Coopers	Barrel makers

Guilds employed with horses

Guild Name	Description	Guild Name	Description
Saddlers	Makers of horse saddles	Corsour	Dealers in horses
Lorimer	Makers of metal parts for bridles	Farriers	Makers of shoes for horses

Guilds making arms and armour

Guild Name	Description	Guild Name	Description
Boywers	Makers of bows	Fletchers	Makers of arrows
Armourers	Makers of shields and armour	Cutlers	Makers of knives, swords and cutlery

Fires

Wooden houses with thatched rooves were a constant fire hazard in medieval towns. In 1135/6 a fire that started on London Bridge spread across a large part of the city of London damaging St. Paul's Cathedral. In 1189 a law was passed called the London Assize in response. To protect the buildings from fire the law stated that the lower floor of new houses must be built from stone and the roofs should be tiled. The quality of the stonework and tiles depended on the wealth of the owner, but it was hoped that this measure would put an end to the destruction.

Some fires

Year	Details
1122	A fire that started in the town of Gloucester spread to the Cathedral destroying treasures and all but a few books.
1130	On the same day that Henry I attended the consecration of Rochester Cathedral, a fire took hold in the city and damaged the newly finished building.
1136	The old wooden London Bridge across the Thames was destroyed by fire this year or in 1135. Note that St. Paul's was also damaged so the fire must have affected a large area of the city.
1137	York Minster was partially damaged by fire in this year. The near-by church of St. Mary's and some other 37 churches were also damaged.
1179	In 1177 or 1179 another fire took hold in the city of Rochester damaging the Cathedral.
1200	The early cathedral at Rouen in France was badly damaged by a fire that destroyed other churches and parts of the city as well.