Medieval Castles Were Smelly, Damp, and Dark

But they are great places to visit in the 21st century, and they no longer smell!

Castles were dark, damp, and smelly. Image from Wikimedia.

On your next UK holiday, be sure to visit a castle. They are magnificent places, full of military and civil history. They make a great day out no matter what the weather. There are castles throughout England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland; some are in ruins, others are fully restored.

It was a tough life for serfs and servants.

Many castles in England date from the Medieval period. This lasted from the end of Norman rule (11th century) to the start of the Tudor dynasty (15th century). Life then was based on the rigid class-based, feudal system.

The lords or ruling class received land and favors from the monarch in return for raising a militia in times of war. The tenant farmers leased land from the lord, and he defended them by imposing the rule of law on the locality.

Serfs were the bottom rung of society and were landless peasants. The farms were protected by the castles, and villagers could take shelter inside its walls if the area came under attack.

A medieval castle was a fort built to withstand military attack. Potential attacks could be from fire, gunshot, explosion, or tunneling beneath the castle…