Mystery in the Middle Ages. A Town-Dweller's House


			Most of the town houses were made of wood, with plastered walls, but stone was also used. In a merchant's house, on the ground floor there used to be a large hall, where the family used to eat and entertain the guests. But most craftmen used to have their workshop together with the shop on the ground floor. So he and his family lived on the floor above. Upstairs was the solar, a parlour for private business and bedrooms, with an attic for the servants. They used to pave the floor with decorated tiles and hung brightly coloured tapestries on the walls. We must remember that houses were built very close together within the walls of the medieval town. That's why most streets were gloomy and airless. But to maximise space, the upper floors were built jutting out above the ground floor.


	Both the interior and exterior walls of a medieval house - including those of the peasants - were usually plastered and whitewashed or coloured with natural pigments, such as ochre. In the wealthier houses, plastered walls were adorned with rich, oil paintings to create geometrical or floral patterns, or scenes from history, legends or the Bible. These paintings must have been obscured or destroyed by later generations.

	Drawing activity Draw your merchant's house in the town. Draw both the exterior and the plans for the inside.