Did castles stink?

Often the moat surrounding the castle was used as a sewer. Both the moat and the castle quickly became smelly and dirty. It's said that the kings and queens of England never stayed longer than eight weeks in one of their castles because of the build-up of foul odors.

Did medieval castles smell?

Life in a Medieval Castle: Cold, Dark, and Very Smelly!

To our modern standards of living, most Medieval castles would have been incredibly cold, cramped, totally lacking privacy, and would have been disgustingly smelly (and likely home to more than a fair share of rats!).

What made castles smelly places?

Pongs were strongest in early castles like Rochester, where the poo fell into a cesspit under the keep, and the stink rose up through the rooms. So pits sometimes had to be cleaned out by an unfortunate servant called the 'gong-farmer' and everyone who could moved out while this was happening!

How did they keep castles clean?

There was particular way in which to 'clean up' oneself, rubbish had a designated place, floors were swept or kept free from too much debris, and rushes or floor coverings were used especially if they were not tiled or flagged. 3. Medieval women living in castles didn't just sit around gazing out of windows.

How did toilets work in castles?

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.

Smelly Facts About London's The Great Stink of 1858

Did castles have showers?

Yes, according to Cliff Claven: "17th century castles have indoor bathrooms, and the plumbing system dumped directly into the surrounding moats."

How often did they bathe in medieval times?

There are stories of how people didn't bathe in the Middle Ages – for example, St Fintan of Clonenagh was said to take a bath only once a year, just before Easter, for twenty-four years. Meanwhile, the Anglo-Saxons believed that the Vikings were overly concerned with cleanliness since they took a bath once a week.

How bad was hygiene in medieval times?

As most people ate meals without knives, forks or spoons, it was also a common convention to wash hands before and after eating. Soap was sometimes used and hair was washed using an alkaline solution such as the one obtained from mixing lime and salt.

What was hygiene like for medieval kings?

While full-body baths were somewhat infrequent, medieval folk did recognize the importance of clean hands and a clean face. Hands were washed before eating as part of Christian and Jewish ritual practices. People also washed their hands after meals, given how much food was consumed without utensils.

Was there soap in medieval times?

Soap was probably invented in the Orient and brought to the West early in the Middle Ages. This was a soft soap without much detergent power. Generally it was made in the manorial workshops, of accumulated mutton fat, wood ash or potash, and natural soda.

How did they shower in medieval times?

Although medieval people didn't bathe in the morning, they used an ewer and basin to wash their hands and face when they woke up. The same equipment was used for handwashing throughout the day.

Do people still live in castles?

The funny thing is, there are a surprising number of historic castles still in use today. These medieval castles are not only still standing, they remain private residences (at least in part) to families that can trace their lineage back through the centuries.

What's it like living in a castle?

Castles were large, dark, draughty and cold. Windows were often small, with wooden shutters or (if the nobleman could afford it), leadlight glass-panes. Glass was expensive back in the medieval period, so most castles did without glass in their windows. Most rooms would have had massive fireplaces.

Why did they put straw on castle floors?

They were used in all areas of the house, including kitchens, dining halls and bedrooms. The herbs were laid on the floor along with reeds, rushes, or straw, so that pleasant odours would be released when people walked on them.

Why did castles stop being built?

Why did they stop building castles? Castles were great defences against the enemy. However, when gunpowder was invented the castles stopped being an effective form of defence. By the end of the 1300s gunpowder was widely in use.

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.

Did King Louis only bathe twice?

King Louis XIV is said to have only bathed twice in lifetime. He found bathing a disturbing act, as did Queen Isabel I of Spain who also confessed to having only two baths; on the day of her birth and the day of her marriage.

How often did Royalty bathe in the 1700s?

Louis XIV, a 17th-century king of France, is said to have only taken three baths in his entire life. Both rich and poor might wash their faces and hands on a daily or weekly basis, but almost no one in western Europe washed their whole body with any regularity, says Ward.

How did Royals bathe?

To replace water and soap, they used face powder, natural oils, and perfumes to hide all the dirt and smell accumulated. Louis XIV would have his makeup put on every morning and use half a bottle of perfume which was enough for the whole castle to smell his presence.

What was Viking hygiene like?

Vikings were known for their excellent hygiene.

Excavations of Viking sites have turned up tweezers, razors, combs and ear cleaners made from animal bones and antlers. Vikings also bathed at least once a week—much more frequently than other Europeans of their day—and enjoyed dips in natural hot springs.

How bad did medieval cities smell?

They were ankle-deep in a putrid mix of wet mud, rotten fish, garbage, entrails, and animal dung. People dumped their own buckets of faeces and urine into the street or simply sloshed it out the window.

What was a Knights hygiene?

They were washed in the nearby rivers or in wooded buckets made for washing clothes with water, mixed with crushed herbs to rid them of filth, smell and, prevent diseases. Despite this routine, it was still not enough to keep them being able to be used long term.

When did humans start showering daily?

Caption Options. The phenomenon of washing one's entire body daily in the West is something that comes from access to indoor plumbing in a modernized world. According to an article from JStor, it wasn't until the early 20th century when Americans began to take daily baths due to concerns about germs.

Why do Japanese bathe at night?

The Japanese are known for their punctuality, and in order to reduce the amount of time it takes to get ready in morning, they prefer to relax and clean themselves well the night before.

Do Japanese take a bath everyday?

But in Japan, it's more than just part of a beauty routine. A 2019 survey from Intage says that 60% of Japanese people bathe every day, instead of opting for a quick shower.