However, by the late 16 th century the great hall was beginning to lose its importance, thanks to the centralisation of power in the hands of royalty. In western France, a smaller, more private hall is known as the salle haute or ‘high room’ emerged, situated on the first floor of manor houses above the larger great hall – it was in this upper hall that the lord and his high-ranking guests would dine and relax. The larger manor houses and grand palaces of the late medieval and early modern period also led to the construction of vaster halls. In a similar vein, as the great hall was the primary room of a castle it was often adorned with other decorations – these impressive rooms would often feature vaulted ceilings and intricate window frame mouldings, for example.Īs the medieval period progressed, great halls became larger as the size of castles increased. Smoke either left the room through a small vent in the ceiling (Ludlow Castle has an example of this), or a chimney was constructed.įireplaces, and in particular mantelpieces, were often elaborately decorated with coats of arms and other heraldic devices carved out of wood, plaster or stone. Great halls also featured large hearths, for the purposes of cooking and heating (although in larger castles kitchens were situated in separate rooms). Usually, there was also a large window allowing natural light into the hall, although in a castle this window could be relatively small so as not to compromise the defensive effectiveness of the fortification.
The room would also have a high ceiling as well as a raised area or ‘dais’ at the high end of the hall, where the lord, his household, and his guests would dine, in clear view of the rest of the hall. Typically, a great hall would have a rectangular layout, with a floorplan between one and a half to three times longer than it was wide. The great hall had many different functions: it could be used to receive guests and hold ceremonies it could be used as a dining space, both by the family and household of the castle’s lord and by guests the hall could also double as a sleeping space, with members of the household bedding down on the floor. The Great Hall was the main room of a castle, and the largest room – great halls could also be found throughout the medieval period in palaces and manor houses. 9 Storage Rooms Great Hall Great Hall at Edinburgh Castle
0 kommentar(er)
