Elizabethan Architecture
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Castles, Fortresses, and Peasant Dwellings
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II.
Roads, Bridges, and Transportation
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III.
Travel- Transportation
Roads and Transportation
Railways
Bridges
Theatre and Taverns/ Innyards
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IV.
Elizabethan Life
Castles/ Fortresses
Noble Estates
Peasant Dwellings
Theatre, taverns, and innyards
Inn Yards
Amphitheatres
Taverns
James Burbage
Cafes and Shops
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Design
Purpose
Castles, Fortresses, and
Peasant Dwellings
Elizabethan Life
Social Pyramid
• The Queen was, of course, at the top of the “social
pyramid,” and lived in a castle, though she moved
residences to other mansions and manors often.
• Next was the Queen’s Court, such as her ladies of the
bed and privy chambers, maids of honor and
chamberers. There were also gentlemen who were in the
Court, and all lived within a ten-mile radius of the Queen.
• The Peerage to the Queen (nobles, dukes, etc.) lived
anywhere in the country, but came to Court when they
were needed. The gentry (knights) also lived away from
the castle, and were almost the same as the gentry.
Castles/ Fortresses
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Many Elizabethan buildings were
symmetrical. Being after the
Medieval times, plain walls and
floors were made into lavish
ornate designs. There were many
windows doors, and rooms.
Castles were always made out of
stone. Before Elizabethan times,
Castles were generally for
protection for the King or Queen,
however during Elizabethan times,
they were for looks and luxury.
The courtyards of many buildings,
including Castles, were thought to
be a tribute to Elizabeth because it
was in the shape of an E,
including the entry hall, the main
hall, the kitchen and the living
area.
Castles/Fortresses (cont.)
• Other rooms within
Castles, and many other
houses as well, were the
bedchamber, the gallery,
the great hall (See right),
the kitchen, the parlor, the
“privy” and withdrawing
rooms.
• Gardens were often
added as an extension of
the castle, and were kept
as colorful as possible.
Nobles’ Manors/ Mansions
• A noble’s manor had the same E-shaped design as
Elizabethan castles. They were often made of brick or
stone, with three or four stories and many, many
windows. There were often elaborate porches, about two
or three stories high, which had a lot of arches.
• These homes also had a great hall, kitchen, and several
other rooms including in some “prodigy” homes, a room
for the Queen to visit in, that was only used if the Queen
visited.
Peasant Dwellings
• Commoners were much better
off in Elizabethan times than
before, and could afford better
houses, though they weren’t
mansions. They were often
small, wood-frame cottages
with only one or two stories.
They didn’t have elaborate
doorways or many windows,
but they did use “Strap work,”
where the wood created
shapes on the house (see
right).
• These cottages also had
several rooms, though they
were very small, but they
served their purpose.
Roads, Bridges, and
Transportation
Transportation
Travel
• Many people chose not to travel a lot during this era
because it was dangerous and expensive to travel.
• It was expensive to travel because you need to get a
license to travel
• Getting a license reduced the amount of people wanting
to travel, therefore reducing the chances of spreading
disease.
• Since a license cost money, the poor and the homeless
could not obtain one, thus reducing the chances of them
moving from one town to another.
• It was a crime to travel without a license and was dealt
with accordingly
Roads and Transportation
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Many roads were unpaved and
they were unsuitable for carriages.
They were only fit for travelling on
foot.
Whatever beauty the roads had
was covered by filth from human
waste.
Most roads were only wide
enough for pack animals and
wagons or coaches were not
allowed to travel on it.
However, in southern England
roads were in very bad shape
because mostly wagons and
carriages traveled on them.
Therefore four or more oxen had
to be used to travel the roads.
Railways
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In 1603, the first railway in the British
Isles was built by the Smythson family
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It was made out of wood
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It was built for colliery wagons
– It looked like an early
version of a train (see
picture on the left)
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It was most likely used for coal mining
since the people operating the coal
pits next to the railways also built
them.
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Laying down this railway would have
helped them by moving the coal
without too much effort
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After this railway was constructed
many more appeared for the sole
purpose of coal mining and not for
travel, since many people did not
travel.
Colliery Wagon
Bridges
• Almost all the bridges
of this time were
symmetrical
• Mostly made of stone
• Sometimes, in order to
cross a bridge, a fee
was charged.
Theatre Tavern/ Innyards
Elizabethan era theater and taverns/inn-yards
• Provided alcohol for travelers
• Provided travelers rooms and lodgings to stay over
night
• Traveling minstrels (medieval entertainers/ poets)
came there to sing and entertain.
• James Burbage started to create plays at these inn
yards which attracted many people and made them
a nice profit.
• The activities at the inn yards were restricted so
James Burbage created the theater a building that
was built specifically for plays.
• From inn-yards came the amphitheater.
The standard Inn Yard
• This is a photograph of
the White Hart inn one
of the main in yards of
the Elizabethan era.
• Elizabethan era inn
yards started in 1576
and ended in 1594.
Elizabethan amphitheater
• First came the inn-yards: The Bull Inn, The Bell
Savage Inn, The Cross Keys Inn, The Bell Inn,
The White Hart Inn, The George Inn.
• Then James Burbage started theater by creating
the amphitheater.
• Audience capacity – 1500-3000 people.
• Theater size – up to 100 feet in diameter.
• Had no toilets.
• Building duration – 6 months.
Elizabethan taverns
• Sold only wine.
• Picture of George
Inn >>>>>>>>>>>
Only inn that is
still standing in
London.
James Burbage
• James Burbage
started the Theater.
• Was an entrepreneur.
• First man to build an
amphitheater.