England in the Middle Ages concerns the history of England during the medieval period, from

the end of the 5th century through to the start of the Early Modern period in 1485.
The Middle Ages were also known as a Dark Age in England due to the distinct lack of
archaeological evidence or written accounts
Feudalism is the name given to the system of government William I introduced to England after
he defeated Harold at the Battle of Hastings. Feudalism became a way of life in Medieval
England and remained so for many centuries.
Under the feudal system, introduced by the Normans society was like a pyramid. At the top of
the pyramid was the king. Below him were the barons or tenants-in-chief. The king granted them
land and in return they had to provide so many soldiers to fight for so many days a year. They
also had to swear an oath of loyalty to the king and they became his vassals. The barons granted
land to knights. In return they had to fight for so many days a year.
A simple plan showing how the Feudal System works (Sabina)

In the Middle Ages the king ruled by divine right. In other words people believed that God had
chosen him to be king and rebellion against him was a sin.

At the bottom of society were peasants. Most were serfs or villeins. They were not free and
could not leave their land without the lord's permission. Furthermore, as well as working on their
own land they had to farm the lord's land for 2 or 3 days a week. They also had to work extra
days for him at busy times like harvest. (Although in time more and more lords allowed them to
pay money rents instead of doing labor service).

The lifestyle of peasants in Medieval England was extremely hard and harsh. Many worked as
farmers in fields owned by the lords and their lives were controlled by the farming year. Certain
jobs had to be done at certain times

of the year. Their lives were harsh but there were few rebellions due to a harsh system of law
and order.(Ioana)
Peasants lived in cruck houses. These had a wooden frame onto which was plastered wattle and
daub. This was a mixture of mud, straw and manure.

There would be little furniture within the cruck houses and straw would be used for lining the
floor.
The houses are likely to have been very hot in the summer and very cold in the winter. Windows
were just holes in the walls as glass was very expensive.
Doors might be covered with a curtain rather than having a door as good wood could be
expensivee cheap and easy to do. The roofs were thatched. At night, any animal you owned
would be brought inside for safety. There were a number of reasons for this. Water had a number
of purposes for peasants cooking, washing etc. Unfortunately, the water usually came from the
same source.(Luci)

Bathing was a rarity even for the rich. A rich person might have a bath just several times a year
but to make life easier, several people might use the water before it was got rid of!
The lives of peasant children would have been very different to today. They would not have
attended school for a start. Very many would have died before they were six months old as
disease would have been very common. As soon as was possible, children joined their parents
working on the land. They could not do any major physical work but they could clear stones off
the land which might damage farming tools and they could be used to chase birds away

during the time when seeds were sown. Peasant children could only look forward to a life of
great hardship.
For all peasants, life was "nasty, brutish and short."(Ioana)

Most people in Medieval England had to make their own food. Food shops were found in towns
but most people were peasants who lived in villages where these did not exist. In Medieval
England you, if a villager, provided for yourself and farming for your own food was a way of
life dictated by the work that had to be carried out during the farming year.
Health and medicine in Medieval England were very important aspects of life. For many
peasants in Medieval England, disease and poor health were part of their daily life and medicines
were both basic and often useless. Towns and cities were filthy and knowledge of hygiene was
non-existent. The Black Death was to kill 2/3rds of Englands population between 1348 and
1350.
Most people in the Middle Ages wore woolen clothing, with undergarments made of linen.
Brighter colors, better materials, and a longer jacket length were usually signs of greater wealth.
The clothing of the aristocracy and wealthy merchants tended to be elaborate and changed
according to the dictates of fashion. Towards the end of the Middle Ages, men of the wealthy

classes sported hose and a jacket, often with pleating or skirting, or a tunic with a surcoat.
Women wore flowing gowns and elaborate headwear, ranging from headdresses shaped like
hearts or butterflies to tall steeple caps and Italian turbans.
rt and music were critical aspects of medieval religious life and, towards the end of the Middle
Ages, secular life as well. Singing without instrumental accompaniment was an essential part of
church services. Monks and priests chanted the divine offices and the mass daily.(Carmen)
Medieval Guilds played an important role in Medieval towns as guilds attempted to guarantee
standards amongst crafts in Medieval England.
London was the biggest and most important city during the Medieval times and era. The
Medieval London Guilds played a major role in the lives of the people in the city. The members
of the Medieval Guilds became powerful. The Guilds controlled the way in which trade was
conducted in the town. The members of the Guilds also became involved with civic duties and
were appointed to important and influential positions in the community.(Luci)
The guilds effectively ran the city and controlled commerce. Each guild had its own hall and
their own coat of arms, but there was also the Guildhall.
To Become a member of Medieval Craft Guilds :

 A man would have to work through three phases to become a member of a Medieval Craft
Guild during the Medieval times and era.

Apprentice - A Craft Guild Apprentice was sent to work for a 'Master' during his early
teens. The Craft Guild Apprenticeship lasted between 5 and 9 years depending on the trade.
During this time the apprentice received no wages - just his board, lodging and training. An
Apprentice was not allowed to marry until he reached the status of a Journeyman
Journeyman - A Craft Guild Journeyman was paid for his labour. During this time the
Journeyman would create his 'Masterpiece', in his own time, which he would present to the
Craft Guild as evidence of his craftsmanship in the hope of being accepted as a Craft Guild
'Master'. It was difficult to reach the status of 'Master' and much depended on the
Journeyman's standing and acceptance by the top members of the Craft Guild
Master - A Craft Guild Master could set up his own workshop and then train his own
apprentic(Catalin)

Medieval Christmas
Christmas is Medieval England was very different to Christmas now. The Church ensured that
Christmas was a true religious holiday. Celebrations were for the birth of Christ as opposed to
simply peasants enjoying themselves.
The first recorded use of the word "Christmas" was in 1038 when a book from Saxon England
used the words "Cristes Maesse" in it.(Carmen)
However, some of the problems experienced at Christmas then have had a knock-on effect for
us. For example, carol singers going from house to house now is as a result of carols being
banned within churches in Medieval times. Carol singers in Medieval times took the word
"carol" literally - it means to sing and dance in a circle. So many Xmas services were spoiled by
carol signers doing just this, that the Church at the time banned them and ordered the carol
singers into the street.(Sabina)
Christmas Day was also a "quarter day". This meant that the poor had to pay their rent on this
day!