In some areas, every male over the age of 12 had to join a group called a tithing, and they had to make sure no one else in the group committed a crime. In the medieval period, there was no organised police force and most law enforcement was organised by local people. These unsanitary conditions contributed to the spread of diseases, such as the Black Death. Animals such as pigs and sheep roamed and butchers often threw waste meat into the street or river. Modern toilets and plumbing were a long way in the future and waste was thrown into the streets. Towns were often unhygienic because of the larger populations and the lack of proper sanitation. Similar to villages, women were also expected to work in the home, cleaning and looking after their family. Some women were able to work as shopkeepers, cloth-sellers or run pubs, but these opportunities were very limited. Coastal towns would trade with other countries. Trade was a key part of town life, with goods such as iron, wool, salt and agricultural products being commonly bought and sold. There were many skilled craftsmen working in towns, such as carpenters, blacksmiths and tailors. The Domesday Book gives some idea about what life in towns was like. London was the largest with a population of 10,000 and Winchester the second largest with 6,000 people. There were not many towns in medieval England, and those that existed were small by modern standards.

A night watchman would patrol the streets to look out for criminals or wild animals to keep townspeople safe. The city gates were shut at dusk and the bell was rung for curfew. The accused would have to pick up a stone from a pot of boiling water and people believed that if the person was innocent, God would heal the wounds within three days. If someone was accused of a crime such as stealing, one of the ways they might have to prove their innocence was through a trial by boiling water. The town was run by powerful people such as merchants and lords, while the crafts workers and traders made their living in the bustling markets.Ĭrime was common in towns. People often shared their homes with their livestock, but none of these animals were house-trained. So people discarded their waste in the streets or local rivers. Although housing did improve during the period, there was no sewage system. Townspeople would attend their first religious mass of the day. At dawn, a bell would ring to begin the day. These towns were crowded, noisy and smelly. New towns developed around religious buildings, castles or trade routes. They had a hard life working all day on farms owned by nobles.

Narrator: Most people in medieval England were farming peasants who lived in villages in the countryside.

Name for supports on medieval buildings