Tudor Villages
Tudor Villages
Typical Tudor villages consisted of various thatched cottages, a village
church, school, inn, barns, stocks and pump. Many Tudor villages boasted
a weekly market and the main market cross, the medieval High Cross,
stood in the centre of the town. Tudor villages consisted of half -
timbered buildings and were situated in rural England and surrounded by
countryside and woodlands. The wool trade became increasingly popular
during the 15th and 16th century period, which meant that land which had been farmed by
peasants was now dedicated to rearing sheep. Although there was a move
towards town life people who lived in a world of limited mobility people
did not venture far away from their Tudor villages. The roads of 15th
and 16th century
England were very poor and every village was required to repair its own
roads. Everyone knew everyone else in the Tudor villages and their were
close family networks which provided a good support mechanism if people
fell on to hard times.
Tudor Villages -
Self-Sufficiency
Life in Tudor villages was pretty
much self-sufficient. There was no reason for the average person to ever
travel further than half a day's walk to the nearest market town. Money
was is short supply so the people of the 15th and 16th century villages would barter to
obtain their requirements, it was therefore unnecessary to take
dangerous journeys amongst strange people. There were, however, local
market fairs when trade was brisk to obtain items in short supply by the
exchange of surplus provisions.
Leisure time in Tudor Villages
Tudor villages were quiet after
sundown and evenings were spent in talk and games. On Sunday there was
some free time. The people of the Tudor villages went to church in the
morning, with time to gossip, play games and enjoy a few pints of ale
after the service was over. The women of the Tudor villages worked
communally at sewing or spinning whilst men bowled, played skittles or
ball games. Many enjoyed board games like nine man's morris, chess or
draughts (checkers).
Tudor Villages
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