Life in Medieval Towns

Were there many large towns at this time?

Not many.

Did towns make effort to deal with health problems?

Yes

What happened in Carlisle in 1345?

official of King Edward III reported that streets of Carlisle were filled with dungheaps and filth that corrupted the air.

Could Carlisle afford to clean the mess?

No, its trade was ruined from constant attacks from Scottish raiders, and livestock was often killed by disease.

When did King Edward I order authorities in York to clear filth from streets?

1301

Why did King Edward I want York to be cleaned?

Because he used it as his base in North while fighting wars against the Scots.

What happened in Bristol in the 14th century?

Bristol's councillors passed many by-laws.

What 3 things did Bristol's new by-laws say had to be moved to the outskirts?

• Dungheaps: caused bad smells (miasma)

• Lepers; bad breath corrupted air

• Prostitutes; sinful, sin causes miasma

• Lepers: bad breath corrupted air (miasma)

• Prostitutes: sinful, sin causes miasma.

What was a good thing about roads and streets?

Roads were often paved and cobbled making them easy to clean.

What was a bad thing about roads and streets?

Used the same carts for goods that were used for waste.

What did butchering animals cause?

Terrible mess and lots of waste.

What had towns employed by 1500?

Carters, to remove waste from butchers and fishmongers.

What was a good thing people believed about smell?

Believed main cause of disease was an invisible poison in air that caused disease (miasma). Good because even though it wasn't miasma they still tried to prevent smells and bacteria unbeknownst to them.

What was a bad thing about smells in towns?

Evidence from town children's bones showed them to have damaged sinuses from the pollution.

What 3 things caused pollution in towns?

1 animal carcasses from butchery

2 acids used in leather

3 smoke from houses and metal work

2 acids used in leather

3 smoke from houses and metal work.

What did people use their gardens for?

growing vegetable and keeping animals (chicken and pigs) and used their dung as a compost heap.

Did people in the centre of towns have gardens?

No as houses were tightly packed but further out many had gardens.

What was a good thing about water sources in towns?

towns had conduits (fountains) where spring water flowed for people to use or they brought water from water carriers.

What did some towns have to take away waster from people's house?

Rakers but this usually took a few days.

What was a bad thing about water sources in towns?

Nobody had pipes to bring clean water to their homes.

What did people use to sweeten food?

Honey which wasn't good for their teeth.

Why were markets important to towns?

peasants brought food and cloth into towns and traders sold hot food and luxuries outside houses.