The medieval house and curtilage: an investigation into domestic spaces in the English medieval romance

Martin, Philippa Adrienne (2007). The medieval house and curtilage: an investigation into domestic spaces in the English medieval romance. University of Birmingham. M.Phil.

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Abstract

Medieval man lived his life in a series of practically defined and segregated domestic spaces which allowed the display of wealth and status. This study uses the English medieval romance as a reliable source, combined with evidence from architecture and archaeology, to investigate domestic space and how medieval life was lived. Texts are chosen from a period spanning 250 years, from the thirteenth to the fifteenth century, to assess how the use of space changes over time and how this was reflected in fictional literature. The knowledge of three key spaces, the hall, chamber, and garden, helps to assess how space was used and to investigate its functions and decoration. Domestic spaces within the romance are used consistently for various activities, such as the chamber and garden for courtship and the hall for political or ceremonial activities. Therefore knowledge of the chamber, hall, and garden allows comparison with relatively obscure spaces such as the cleve, cote, towers, the monastery, and parkland. Through the use of domestic space the romance reflects the contemporary desire for social advancement, the developments in architecture and domestic comforts, as well as the complexities of the use of space for personal or public ends.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Masters by Research > M.Phil.)

Award Type:

Masters by Research > M.Phil.

Supervisor(s):