HOW
HEALTHY WAS
LATE MEDIEVAL CANTERBURY?
A reconstruction
of Canterbury in the Late Middle Ages by John Bowen
(Canterbury Archaeological Trust)
How would the conditions shown in this picture have encouraged the spread of disease?
1.The river carried
away the waste from the tanneries up stream. It was also used to dump
other waste. Because of the mills downstream the sewage often blocked
the river causing flooding.
2.The ‘bullstake’
was the one of the main meat markets in the town.
3.Open sewers
carried rubbish throughout the streets.
4.Water was
often taken from wells that were next to cess pits.
5.Cess pits
were dug in back gardens for the toilet waste. Some were lined with wood.
6.Offal and
meat remains were piled outside shops and dumped in the river.
7.Churchyards were
overcrowded.
8.Butchers and
other food sellers were controlled but some still sold rotten produce
to their customers.
9.Animal dung
was left in the streets. Flies were at their worst in late summer.
10.Many pilgrims
stayed at the inns. The population was dense with hundreds of
people packed into the area around the Cathedral.
11.Horse dung
was found in large quantities in the stables and the streets throughout
the city.
|
Activities |
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| 1. |
How healthy do you think it was living in late Medieval Canterbury? |
| 2. |
Compare this reconstruction with the one of Roman Canterbury. Explain which was the healthiest environment. Use the back button to return here. |
| 3. | How accurate is the drawing by John Bowen? Are reconstructions like this one useful or misleading? |
