Towns Flashcards
(20 cards)
What is a conduit
A fountain where spring water flowed for all to use
How was water from the conduit channelled
Through led pipes from springs in the countryside
What did people use water for?
Cooking, washing and brewing their own ale.
What did people who drank the water do before hand?
They would warm it first as it was believed it was good for health
What did rich merchants live in?
May have had larger houses and the second floor would stick out over the top which made the streets gloomy
What were houses in towns made from?
The houses had Thatched roofs where insects , mice and rats lived
How where the houses in towns made?
Town centres had houses placed tightly together but further out of town houses would be more spread out and may have had gardens.
What was in some gardens and why?
People had grown vegetables and flowers which purified the air and the bad smell from towns caused disease
What were the rules in towns?
Householders were supposed to keep their gutter clean and clear their drains and keep their own doorstep tidy
Did people keep to the rules?
No, some people even built drains which emptied their stuff onto their neighbours door step
What did towns include?
Vendors and taverns(pubs) which sold hot food and ale some vendors made proph. it from old or rancid meat which was turned into pies.
What were taverns and vendors like?
Taverns were clearly popular, Tavern ale was strong brewed ale and drunkenness was a common problem
What were Market days like?
Streets would be full of waste/goods that had been on sale , dung from all the animals
What were diets like?
Most townspeople ate the same as villagers, rich people would have eaten much more meat which would’ve been unhealthy.
What was household waste like?
Householders we’re allowed rubbish on the street for 3-4 days but could be fined if not taken away after
Who cleaned the streets?
Men known as rakers were paid to remove the waste from the streets , they were meant to take it away but many dumped it into the rivers
What was human waste like?
The rich had private toilets in their houses but many had theirs in their garden or even had to share with several others
Where was waste stored?
The waste was dropped into a cesspit , riches had theirs made from stone but others were either lined with barrels or had no lining at all and would leak into the neighbourhood
What was a gongfermer and their job?
They would remove the waste from the cesspit and most would take them to farmers so they could fertilise their feilds others would break the law and dump it into the rivers!
Why did gongfermers do the job?
They were very well paid
