A Primer on Keeping Warm in the Medieval Period

 Modern life tends to go on as usual despite shifting temperatures, but what about people in the medieval period? How did the weather affect them, and how did they manage to keep warm?

Keeping warm, Medieval style

You might think in the early medieval days fireplaces would be the main source of indoor heat, but they’re not. It was actually Eleanor of Aquitaine who got the ball rolling on that one. When she married Louis VII in 1137, she had a hard time adjusting to the northern French climate so she had fireplaces put into her husband’s castles. They don’t come into wide use until the 13th century. Even at this point, they’re pretty much reserved for the upper classes.

 Open hearths are what most people rely on. Located in the center of the room, ventilation shafts are placed in the roof overhead to allow smoke to escape. Soot accumulates quickly, and wood smoke is the perfume of the day.
Certainly being rich has advantages, but warmer rooms really aren’t one of them. Castles and manor homes have large great halls where most of the daily activities occur. Households even gather there to sleep by the large central hearth.  Unfortunately, the hearth is covered in the evening with a clay cover to protect against fires in the middle of the night.

Keeping heat in a room with high vaulted roofs and lengths between 40 and 100 feet with only a central fire pit isn’t easy. Windows are drafty since glass doesn’t come into use until the 13th century and then only in the wealthiest of houses. Even with glass keeping warm in a castle continues to be a challenge. 

Make good use of body heat

We all know the more the merrier, but don’t forget more also means warmer. Not only do you huddle in with your family, but your animals as well. This keeps your valuable livestock from freezing and creates more body heat in the house.

Houses that incorporate living space for animals, as well as their owners, are known as housebarns. Nordic longhouses are a well-known example. One style joins barn and living quarters with a central wall, while others might have animals on the first floor and living quarters on the second. Variations could be found all around western Europe and the British Isles. Thanks to all that body heat, the air would warm up enough to keep man and beast from freezing. Certainly, on a cold day, no one would fault you for snuggling up with your favorite cow, but it’s more common to snuggle with other people. They smell better.

Clothing is important

Good clothing is a must. In fact, without it, you could freeze to death. There’s no sucking it up for fashion’s sake—you’ve got to dress warmly. Don’t think modern folk are the only ones to fall prey to fashion either. Vanity is timeless. In fact, the whole idea is addressed in a book of moral tales from 1371 written by a French knight for the benefit of his daughters.

The story tells of a girl who was preparing for a visit from a handsome knight she was hoping to marry. She thought a good showing off of her curves might be just the encouragement he needed. Despite the cold, she cast aside her furs. They had the terrible habit of blocking a gentleman’s view. Well by the time the knight arrived the cold had spoiled her looks. In fact, she was so pale the knight found her quite unattractive. Her sister, however, dressed warmly and retained her rosy cheeks and youthful beauty. The knight took notice and married her instead. (Lest you think it was just the folly of women, there’s a similar story about a knight  who lost his love to another man who, due to appropriate dress choices, was “red as a cock and had good lively color.”)

So how should a person dress to keep warm?

Linen, leather, wool, silk, and fur made up the majority of medieval clothing and in the winter you can wear them all if you’re of the right class. Layering is key for keeping warm. Undergarments made of linen should be followed by heavier layers starting with a wool tunic. On top of that is an over gown followed by a cloak. A hood may be attached, although separate hats might be used as well.  Fur is an excellent choice for keeping warm, and it isn’t uncommon to wear three different furs at once if the weather so dictates. Common furs are squirrel, marten, and rabbit. Sumptuary laws required certain furs such as ermine to be reserved for the elite.

What really keeps a person warm, however, is the weave of fabric more so than its weight. The key to staying warm, therefore, is to use clothing to trap in your body heat. This is why wool is so popular. The weave is tight,  and it has the ability to wick away moisture.

Hats are a must since a body will concentrate all its heat on vital organs If your head is cold, heat is shunted from parts like your feet making them even colder. So for warm feet keep your head warm! To assist in keeping feet warm shoes can be stuffed with straw for added insulation.

So we’re warm. Now what? 

While the risk of death is higher in the winter, there’s a bright side—you get a nice vacation. There’s no tilling or harvesting to be done for the lord, although peasants still have to tend to their animals, mend fences and pens, sharpen and repair tools and work on whatever else one can’t get done in the busy summer season.  Other than that you’re free to do what you want.

 So what do medieval people do for winter recreation?  Well, there’s ice skating and skiing for starters. How about a snowball fight, or building a snow fort? Medieval people aren’t so different that they can’t play in the snow you know. If you’d rather not risk being in the cold how about a game? Medieval people love playing games like backgammon and chess in their free time.  Halatafl, Queek, and Raffle are popular choices as well.

Of course, some people take better to the cold than others. Those dreaming of summer picnics and dips in the lake might be spending their free time in the warmth of their bed, but for others, it’s business as usual. Some might even travel.  In Sweden, winter is actually thought of as a good time for traveling.  Roads often wind through the high ground and include many twists and turns. In winter everything freezes and rivers and lakes can be easily crossed with a sleigh or skis, cutting travel time by up to 2/3.  Even roads can be easier to travel since heavy snowfalls level ruts and bumps making them easily traveled by skiers as well.

Can’t I just go south for the winter?

After all, Americans do it all the time right? If you’ve got the money, why not catch a ship bound for the Mediterranean and enjoy yourself while winter plays out its icy cards?  Well, it’s a nice idea but you’ll have to leave pretty darn early if you plan on crossing the sea. Travel from mid-September through early November is pretty dangerous. From November to March downright impossible. In fact, winter travel across the Mediterranean sea is actually more dangerous than the North Sea or the Atlantic ocean.  If you’re really dreaming of a Mediterranean Christmas, you’ll have to cross between the end of May and mid-September. But if you love it that much, maybe you’d just better move there.

Sources:

http://medievalist.net

http://lucmedievalgarden.blogspot.com/2012/01/medieval-winter.html

  lhttps://britishlibrary.typepad.co.uk/digitisedmanuscripts/2015/01/surviving-the-winter-medieval-style.html

https://www.ancient.eu/Great_Hall/