What does rushes on the floor mean?

Rushbearing is an old English ecclesiastical festival in which rushes are collected and carried to be strewn on the floor of the parish church. The tradition dates back to the time when most buildings had earthen floors and rushes were used as a form of renewable floor covering for cleanliness and insulation.

Why were rushes put on Castle floors?

The earthen floor would be covered with rushes. Rushes provided good insulation and could help to keep the floor clean. I know that I often point to The Secrets of the Castle for examples, but the archaeologists demonstrate the practicalities of medieval life so well.

Why did they put reeds on the floor?

They were used in all areas of the house, including kitchens, dining halls and bedrooms. The herbs were laid on the floor along with reeds, rushes, or straw, so that pleasant odours would be released when people walked on them. Certain plants would also help keep pests such as fleas at bay.

What were medieval castle floors made of?

In a ground-floor hall the floor was beaten earth, stone or plaster; when the hall was elevated to the upper story the floor was nearly always timber, supported either by a row of wooden pillars in the basement below, as in Chepstow’s Great Hall (shown left), or by stone vaulting.

How are rushes used?

Common rushes are used in many parts of the world for weaving into chair bottoms, mats, and basketwork, and the pith serves as wicks in open oil lamps and for tallow candles (rushlights). effusus, called soft rush, is used to make the tatami mats of Japan.

What do rushes look like?

Rushes are characterized by their nude leaves, which can be thin, or more or less flattened, or round and containing spongy pith. They grow as tussocks or more isolated stalks, and bear inflorescences near the tip.

Did medieval houses have dirt floors?

Earthen floors were predominant in most houses until the mid 14th century in Europe, and persist to this day in many parts of the world. In medieval times, almost all peasant housing had earthen floors, usually of hardpacked dirt topped off with a thin layer of straw for warmth and comfort.

Did medieval castles have wood floors?

Medieval Times Typically, hardwood flooring was not just about aesthetics, but installed for practicality. Since oak and pine were readily available, those species are the most abundant in homes and castles from the middle ages.

Did they have carpet in medieval times?

The practice of covering floors with rushes was a a real threat to hygiene and health during the Medieval times. Following the Black Death a limited number of carpets and mats were introduced to replace the floor rushes but floors strewn with straw or rushes were still favoured.

What does dirt floor poor mean?

Dirt poor. The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt – hence the saying “dirt poor.” The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on the floor to help keep their footing.

How many floors did medieval houses have?

Tiles were used on the roofs and some had chimneys and glass in the windows. These houses had two or more floors and the servants slept upstairs.

Where do rushes grow?

Answer: Plants in the genus Juncus are known as rushes and reside in the Juncaceae family. Rushes favor the edges of ponds, bogs, and low, moist areas. They do well in boggy soils and are also reliable growers under fluctuating water conditions.