The Chimney and Social Change in Medieval England
LeRoy Dresbeck
The ecological perspective has focused our attention upon the relationship
between human beings and their physical surroundings. It has made us
appreciate the relation between changing social patterns and physical
surroundings. In this lecture we shall be looking at the interrelationship between
the chimney and fireplace in medieval England1
and the changing social
mores.2
Dresbeck points out that early medieval buildings heated by a central hearth
required a high ceiling to prevent sparks from causing fire. Thus, whatever
warming might come by sitting around the fire in a circle was partly offset by
the upward dissipation of heat into the large high-ceiling rooms.
With
the
structural adoption of the fireplace and chimney being introduced in many
homes of the twelfth century, the number of persons sitting next to the fire was
reduced by nearly three quarters, thus diluting the functional capability of large
rooms. So it could be said that the chimney fostered small room. Though heat
loss still took place through the chimney it was much less than the open hearth.
Now rooms could be built with lower ceiling where heating could be efficiently
enjoyed by lesser number of people.
1
2
The Medieval period in England is between 600 A.D.—1500 A.D.
Mores refers to strongly prescribed or accepted forms of behavior.
1
This led to compartmentalization of rooms/space and productive work within
domestic space. As the room size decreased there followed a tendency to divide the
functions performed in them, establishing compartments based upon tasks. For
example, the earlier art theme of a man sitting by a fire warming his bare feet got
replaced by such themes as man stirring a pot hanging on the fireplace. Changing
technological factors influenced a reinterpretation of an art motif which frequently
emphasized activity and work. So partitioning which occurred for warmth
substantially altered views toward labour. Since the new method of heating permitted
compartmentalization, the medieval house ceased to be a residence only and became
an agent for a wider scope of more productive work. In all occupations from
government service to home-based industries fireplace and chimney helped to
overcome the cold.
The compartmentalization of rooms in turn had important social
implications such as growth of the idea of privacy. Once the castles installed
the chimney and the fireplace, dancing was easier as there was no central hearth.
But at the same time the king could retire into a private room from the noise and
publicity of the hall. Where the king spends his time was not a trivial issue.
After the remodeling the king spent most of his time in his private rooms and the
great hall was used for strictly ceremonial functions. It is pointed out that Henry
III seized upon this as means of escaping the confusion of the hall or great
chamber.
2
It is also pointed out that class divide widened due to structural changes in house
design. Royal staff was divided into separate rooms from a central hall which
also led to bureaucratic divisions.
In later Middle Ages building chimneys were part of increasing royal
expenditure. Often this was a reward for knights who performed service for the
king. The nobles were quick to imitate the king in enjoying the new technology.
Poems from this period lament this tendency in the following words:
Woe is in the hall in all times and seasons
Where neither lord nor lady likes to linger
Now each rich man has a rule to eat in secret
In a private parlour, for poor folk’s comfort
In a chamber with a chimney, perhaps, and leave the chief assembly
Which was made for men to have meat and meals in
Dissemination of fireplace and chimney to the poorer sections: In poorer
homes when chimney was found it was not partitioned. Paintings of farmhouse
from the fifteenth century have the theme where a whole family sits around the
fireplace. It shows that the poor were also beginning to introduce the new
heating technology into their homes. Gradually the connection between warmth,
comfort and privacy applied to people in all levels of the economic and social
scale.
Chimney as a status symbol (conspicuous consumption): Very soon the need
for heat became a symbol of ‘conspicuous consumption’ among the upper
3
classes. A 1320 miniature painting shows a gentleman dressing in front of the
fireplace. Also the concept of a separate bedroom emerged.
Slowly even public buildings started having this new technique of heating. In
1214 there was an interesting case where a fireplace was constructed for an
almonry where beggars waited to collect alms. In York, prisons were provided
with fireplaces.3 Chimneys were installed in shops and taverns. Therefore, they
were installed in public buildings as well as private spaces. Initially, it was the
prerogative of the rich but also benefited the poor. Between twelfth and
fourteenth century the entire spectrum of society witnessed the development of
chimney and it is important to understand how the new heating technology
affected the spectrum of society and changed the mores of medieval life.
Reference:
Dresbeck, LeRoy “The Chimney and Social Change in Medieval England” Albion: A
Quarterly Journal Concerned with British Studies, Vol. 3, No. 1, (Spring, 1971), pp.
21-32.
3
Here discuss the story ‘The Cop and the Anthem’ by O. Henry
4