Medieval Facts
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Men wore figure hugging clothing ( and corsets )
The famous Battle of Hastings did not take place in Hastings ! It was actually waged at Senlac Hill – which is about 6 miles ( 10km ) north-west of Hastings
One of the earliest versions of the London Bridge was destroyed in 1014 when the Saxons rowed up the Thames , tied ropes to it , and pulled it down !
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In 1086 , 10 % of the populations recorded in the Domesday Book ( a large census ) were slaves . In some areas , there were as many as 20 %
It was not uncommon in England during the medieval period , for animals to be put on trial for crimes . Animals could be sentenced to death if found guilty of their crimes
In the middle ages , people would often keep coins in jars or pots made of pygg – these were called “ pygg jars ”. By the 18th century , with the evolution of language , these came to be known as a “ pig bank ” or “ piggy bank ”
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Trial by ordeal was common in England in the middle ages . In this trial , the accused would be subjected to a very painful task ( such as being burnt by a hot iron ) – if they survived the trial , or their wounds healed quickly , they would be found not guilty as it was believed that God had performed a miracle to help the accused
One bizarre recipe for a medicine to protect against the plague involved drinking ale that has had crushed roasted egg shells , leaves and petals of marigold flowers , and treacle added to it
Prior to the introduction of surnames in England in 1066 , everyone born had just one name . When surnames were introduced they would often include a nickname , In time , the system evolved to a point where people would take the same name as their father – giving us the modern surname system