How Clean Were Tudor Homes and Were They Really as Dirty as We Think?

 

How Clean Were Tudor Homes and Were They Really as Dirty as We Think?

Today I want to try and find out just how clean Tudor homes really were. It is easy to think that people living more than 400 years ago paid little attention to cleanliness, but the reality was more complicated. Although they lacked the modern plumbing and cleaning products that we have today, many Tudors still worked hard to keep their homes as clean as they could.

The standard of cleanliness usually depended on a family’s wealth. Rich households employed servants that could do the cleaning, they swept floors, dusted furniture and emptied chamber pots every day. Poorer families had to do the jobs themselves, usually in much smaller homes where people and animals sometimes had to share the space.

Floors were regularly swept with simple brooms that were made from bundles of twigs or heather. In wealthier homes, fresh rushes were spread across the floor. These helped to provide some warmth and comfort, but they also trapped the dirt and had to be replaced regularly. Contrary to popular belief, they were not usually left to rot for months at a time.

Without running water, washing was much harder than it is today. Water had to be carried from wells, rivers or public pumps, so it was used carefully. Clothes were washed less often than modern clothing, but many people changed and cleaned their linen undergarments regularly, as these absorbed sweat and helped keep the body clean.

Good smells were also considered important. People burned herbs like rosemary and lavender these helped to make their home smell more pleasant. They sometimes even scattered them around their homes to freshen the air. Although people of the time did not understand germs, they did believe that bad smells could spread diseases, so keeping the home smelling nice was thought to keep you healthy.

By modern standards, Tudor homes would probably be seen as dirty, especially because there were no toilets, vacuum cleaners or disinfectants. But even without all these things many Tudor families took pride in keeping their homes as tidy and clean as they could.

 

Were Tudor homes cleaner than you expected and do you think you could have lived in one?

 

Anne Frank Part 10: How Was the Secret Annex Discovered?

Anne Frank Part 10: How Was the Secret Annex Discovered?

Today I want to have a look at one of the biggest mysteries that surrounds the story of Anne Frank. After more than two years in hiding, the Secret Annex was discovered on the 4th of August 1944. But who betrayed them, and was it even a betrayal at all?

On the morning of Friday the 4th of August 1944, German SS officer Karl Silberbauer and several Dutch police officers arrived at Otto Frank's business premises on Prinsengracht in Amsterdam. Victor Kugler was working in the office when they arrived. After being questioned, he was forced to lead them through the building to the Secret Annex. Kugler later recalled that the first person he saw when they entered the annex was Edith Frank. He tried to remain calm, and said quietly, "The Gestapo is here," before the officers took complete control. Otto Frank remembered that he had been upstairs helping Peter van Pels with a lesson when an armed officer suddenly appeared in the doorway. It brought more than two years of hiding to an abrupt end.

 Anne Frank, her family, the Van Pels family and Fritz Pfeffer were all arrested. Two of the helpers, Victor Kugler and Johannes Kleiman were also arrested.

For many years, people believed that someone had informed the authorities about the Secret Annex. Several individuals have been suggested over the decades, but no theory has ever been proven. Historians continue to debate what really happened.

Some people believe there may have been a betrayal, but others suggest that the discovery could have happened by chance whilst there was an investigation into illegal ration coupons, fraud or other activities that were connected to the building. Despite decades of research, there is still no definitive answer.

After the arrest, the eight people were taken away for questioning before being sent to Westerbork transit camp. From there, they were deported on the last transport from Westerbork to Auschwitz on the 3rd of September 1944.

More than 80 years later, the exact reason the Annex was discovered remains a mystery. 

Next time, I want to take a look at what happened to the helpers after the Secret Annex was discovered. What became of the people who risked everything to protect Anne Frank and the others?

What do you think happened? Was the Secret Annex betrayed, or could it simply have been discovered by chance?

What Was Cholera and Why Did It Terrify Victorian Britain?

What Was Cholera and Why Did It Terrify Victorian Britain?

Today I want to take a look at one of the deadliest diseases of the Victorian era. That is Cholera. Cholera spread fear across Britain because it could strike without warning. It could kill healthy people in just a matter of hours.

Cholera is a bacterial disease. It spreads through water or food that is contaminated with human waste. During the early Victorian period, most people did not know this. Many people believed that diseases were caused by bad smells in the air, known as "miasma."

Britain experienced several major cholera outbreaks during the 19th century. Starting in 1831. The crowded towns and cities that were created by the Industrial Revolution often had poor sanitation. Many families lived without proper sewers, clean running water or effective waste disposal. This let the disease to spread fast.

The symptoms were terrifying. The victims suffered from severe vomiting, diarrhoea, painful muscle cramps and extreme dehydration. Within only hours, they could become dangerously weak, their skin taking on a bluish-grey appearance because of the loss of fluids. Many people tragically died the same day they became ill.

One of the most important turning points happened in 1854. Dr John Snow investigated a deadly outbreak in Soho. He found that many victims had used water from the Broad Street pump. After the pump handle had been removed, the outbreak declined. But historians do note that the outbreak had already begun to decline naturally by the time the handle was removed. However, removing it became the famous symbolic event supporting Snow's findings. His investigation became one of the foundations of modern epidemiology and it helped to prove that contaminated water, not bad air, was spreading cholera.

The outbreaks eventually led to major improvements in public health. New sewer systems, cleaner water supplies and better sanitation transformed Britain's towns and cities, saving countless lives in the years that followed.

It is difficult to imagine living in a time when something as simple as drinking a glass of water could be deadly.

Had you realised that it was contaminated water, rather than bad air, that caused cholera?

Anne Frank Part 9: The Hidden Heroes Behind Anne Frank's Survival

Anne Frank Part 9: The Hidden Heroes Behind Anne Frank's Survival

Image info: Miep and Jan Gies

Today I want to take a look at the extraordinary people who risked everything to keep Anne Frank and the seven others alive. Without their courage, the people in the annex would not have likely not lived beyond just a few days.

The most well-known was Miep Gies, but she did not care for them alone. She was helped by Jan Gies, her husband, Victor Kugler, Johannes Kleiman and Bep Voskuijl, they all supported the people in hiding for more than two years. This carried enormous risk. If they had been caught helping Jewish people, they could have been imprisoned or even killed.

Image info:

Bep Voskuijl

The helpers were not strangers. Most already knew Otto Frank through his businesses in Amsterdam. They had earned his trust long before the family went into hiding. Miep Gies worked as an office assistant, Bep Voskuijl was a young office worker, Victor Kugler helped manage the business, Johannes Kleiman was one of Otto’s closest business associates, and Miep’s husband, Jan Gies, became involved through her. When Otto’s carefully prepared hiding plan became a reality in July 1942, these loyal friends and colleagues willingly risked their own lives to protect the eight people hidden in the Secret Annex.

The helpers brought food, clothing, books, newspapers and other supplies whenever they could. During the war, food was rationed and it was often difficult to get hold of. Finding enough food for eight extra people was a challenge. They collected extra ration coupons through contacts. They also tried to buy small amounts of food from different shops to try and avoid being found out. They sometimes had to use on the black market in spite of the high prices. They even shared some of their own limited food. Attracting attention could have exposed both the helpers and everyone hiding in the Annex.

They passed on news from the outside world, which helped those in hiding to stay connected.

Miep Gies became quite close to Anne. She brought books and little treats to the annex to try and lift everyone's spirits. 

The helpers also helped to protect Otto’s business as much as they could. They made sure that the Annex stayed secret and that the workers didn’t discover them. The bravery of the helpers kept the hiding place secret for over two years.

Miep Gies found Anne's diary on the floor of the Annex after the arrest. She collected the pages up and kept them safe, hoping that one day she could give them back to Anne. But, she gave them to Otto Frank, sadly he was the only member of the eight to survive. Because of her decision to preserve the diary, millions of people around the world have been able to read Anne's words.

The courage of these people reminds us that even during history's darkest moments, people could still choose compassion.

What do you think gave the helpers the courage to keep going for more than two years?

Norwich Cathedral Part 3: How Was Norwich Cathedral Built More Than 900 Years Ago?

Norwich Cathedral Part 3: How Was Norwich Cathedral Built More Than 900 Years Ago?

Today I want to take a look at how Norwich Cathedral grew into one of the finest Norman buildings in Europe. It is amazing to think that everything was built by hand, using the skills of medieval craftsmen more than 900 years ago.

Work on Norwich Cathedral started in 1096 under the direction of Bishop Herbert de Losinga. Building a cathedral on this scale was a massive undertaking and it would take many years to complete. Every stage had to be carefully organised, they needed to obtain the stone and shape each block and then lift it into position.

The finest limestone was brought from Caen in Normandy by ship before it travelled inland to Norwich. Builders also used local flint, which can still be seen in many parts of the cathedral today. The abundance of flint in Norfolk meant it was used to build many medieval buildings, giving the county a lot of its distinctive historic architecture. The combination of these materials created a building that was both strong and beautiful.

Construction was started at the eastern end, where the choir was built first. This allowed the monks to begin holding services even before the rest of the cathedral had been built. Hundreds of workers cut the stone, built scaffolding and carefully put each piece into place. This gave many families a steady income and helping the local economy to grow.

By 1101, the choir was ready to be used. Over the following years, the rest of the cathedral started to take shape. The main building was largely completed by the early 12th century. Later features were added, including the impressive stone spire that was added in the 15th century, it still dominates Norwich’s skyline today.

More than nine centuries after construction began, Norwich Cathedral still shows the power and influence the Normans had on the city.

Next time, we’ll step inside the cathedral to discover what everyday life was like for the Benedictine monks who lived there.

What amazes you most about medieval cathedral building?

Anne Frank Part 8: How Did Eight People Survive Day After Day in the Secret Annex?

Anne Frank Part 8: How Did Eight People Survive Day After Day in the Secret Annex?

 

Today I want to take a look at what everyday life was really like in the annex once all of the eight people were living together. Although they had escaped deportation, every single day was controlled. There was routine and the constant risk of being discovered. The fear must have been overwhelming.

 

From Monday to Saturday, they  followed a strict timetable. Before the warehouse workers arrived, everyone rushed to wash, use the bathroom and eat breakfast. From around 8:30 in the morning until the workers left in the evening, they had to remain almost completely silent. They could not run water, walk heavily, speak loudly or even flush the toilet if there was a risk of being heard below. Even dropping a spoon or moving a chair could have put all eight lives in danger.

 

To pass the many hours, Anne continued with her schoolwork, read books, practised languages and wrote in her diary. Otto Frank spent a lot of his time helping to oversee his businesses from the Annex, discussing important matters with the helpers who carried messages between him and his employees whenever it was safe to do so. He also educated Anne and Margot, while the other adults read, studied or completed household tasks. Fritz Pfeffer often spent part of the day writing letters to his fiancée, Charlotte Kaletta, who he had been separated from because she was not Jewish. The helpers secretly passed on some of his letters whenever they could. Anne, who had to share her tiny bedroom and writing table with Fritz, often became frustrated because he spent so long writing his letters and this left her with little space for her study or writing in her diary. At lunchtime, Miep Gies, Victor Kugler, Johannes Kleiman and Bep Voskuijl brought food, supplies and news from the outside world. Without their courage, the people in hiding could not have survived as long as they did.

 

When the workers went home, the Annex came to life. Meals could be finally be cooked, the radio was also switched on to listen secretly to BBC broadcasts, conversations became louder and everyone could move around a lot more freely. But these brief moments of normality, didn’t stop arguments from happening. The eight people shared such a small space with almost no privacy so it was inevitable.

 

It is remarkable that they managed to live this way for more than two years.

 

Which part of life in the Secret Annex do you think would have been the hardest to cope with?

 

 

 

 

 

The Extraordinary Day Elizabeth I Became Queen of England

The Extraordinary Day Elizabeth I Became Queen of England

Imagine spending years under suspicion...only to wake up one day to find out you were now Queen of England. That is exactly what happened to Elizabeth on the 17th of November 1558.

Elizabeth I

Today I want to take a look at the day Elizabeth I became Queen of England and how her life changed forever.

Tower of London

On the 17th of November 1558, 25-year-old Elizabeth was living at Hatfield Palace in Hertfordshire when news arrived that her half-sister, Queen Mary I, had died after a long illness at the age of 42. She had reigned for just over 5 years.

Elizabeth I

Mary had been seriously ill for several weeks before her death. She had suffered two phantom pregnancies during her reign, which left her physically and emotionally drained. The exact cause of her illness is unknown, but historians believe she may have died from influenza, pneumonia or an underlying illness such as cancer.

Mary I

Elizabeth was not with Mary when she died. The sisters had shared a difficult relationship for many years. After Wyatt's Rebellion in 1554, Mary suspected Elizabeth of supporting the plot to overthrow her. Although no evidence was ever found against her, Elizabeth was imprisoned in the Tower of London for about two months before she was moved to Woodstock Palace, where she stayed under house arrest for about a year.

Hatfield House

Eventually, Mary allowed Elizabeth to live at Hatfield Palace. She was no longer a prisoner, but she was still kept under close watch and she also needed to get permission to travel. Hatfield had become her main residence during the final years of Mary's reign, so it was there that she waited as Mary's health steadily declined.

When Mary died, members of the Privy Council, including Sir William Cecil, travelled to Hatfield to tell Elizabeth that she was now Queen of England. It is believed that Elizabeth walked into the palace gardens, knelt beneath an oak tree and quoted Psalm 118:23:

"This is the Lord's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes."

In a single moment, everything changed for Elizabeth. She had spent years living under suspicion and uncertainty but now found herself ruling a country that was deeply divided by religion, facing financial difficulties and threatened by powerful enemies.

The news spread across England, but the reaction was mixed. Many Protestants celebrated Elizabeth’s accession, they hoped she would bring an end to the religious persecutions of Mary’s reign. Many Catholics, mourned Mary’s death and feared that England would again move away from the Catholic faith. For most ordinary people, the greatest hope was simply that the new queen would bring peace and stability.

For the six days she stayed at Hatfield, she received members of the Privy Council, welcomed nobles and ambassadors, held her first meetings with advisers and also began making important decisions about her new reign. Although she had only just become queen, the work of governing England had already begun.

Six days after becoming queen, on 23rd of November 1558, Elizabeth made her way to London. There were crowds lining the streets to welcome her, and she took up residence in the Tower of London. Just four years earlier she had entered the Tower as a prisoner. Now, she returned as Queen of England. How dramatically her fortunes had changed!

Against all expectations, Elizabeth would reign for almost 45 years. Her reign became known as the Elizabethan Age, it is remembered for its relative stability, flourishing culture, exploration and some of England's greatest achievements.

How do you think Elizabeth felt that she had survived Mary's reign?