Habitat

Habitat: [Optional]

This category overlaps that of everyday life, but is not identical. The candidate must display a working knowledge of the persona’s home such as that displayed during everyday life discussion. She should also have good overall knowledge of shelter in general in her time period and culture, the geography of her home and any other area she should be familiar with, climate, who lives with or near her, source of water, disposal of waste. (NOTE: Habitat and Food is judge in a round table discussion. Since they overlap and intertwine so thoroughly with Every Day Life, we have decided that the best way of judging these categories is to combine the round table discussion of Everyday Life, a required category, with the round table discussions of Habitat and Food).

In the time of Christiana Elizabeth Constable she had moved five times. In this section I will only cover the period when Lady Christiana married to John Willard, which involve two residences. One residence was west of London just outside the walls, and the other residence, built midway between Hall and Beverley, going north of Hall but also south of the Beverley Minister. The coverage of architecture, cost of building the second house, and trades will be included here in briefing.

Climate of London and Hall.

Winters are usually damp and warm however as one goes north towards Scotland, the weather will becomes cooler, with more snow staying, with London receiving, rain snow mix, and Beverley receiving snow. During mid winter the climate would be cold enough to form ice on the rivers. It should be noted that towards the end of the 1500s the weather did become colder and the winters longer as a climate shift was occurring, this caused the farmlands around Beverley to be alter from farm land to ranch land for raising both cattle and sheep. Both are damp cool climates, requiring one to wear layers to stay warm. See costuming. Fog is also common in this area also. Summers are cool because of the island being surrounded by seas. The North Sea to the East and the Irish Sea to the west with Ireland another island lying west of the sea followed by the North Atlantic. Prevailing winds would be from the west by south west across the Atlantic keeping the climate moderate, and damp. The North Atlantic Drift has a major factor on keeping the climate moderate since England lies between the latitudes of 50 to 60. It should be noted through historical reference to climate indication that the lows were –5 C to highs of +3 C in the winter and average highs of +18 C in the summer on average for the region known as Beverly. Also large amounts of precipitation occurred during the early months of summer, with December and January being the lesser months for precipitation.

During certain phases of the moon would also cause tides that would flow back on the rivers that enter the North Sea. The Thames River is just such a place, where the tide would flood the saltwater marshes to the east of London. Storm surges would develop in the North Sea, and do to the geography of the shore line of the sea funneling into the channel, the low pressure of the storm system would cause a storm serge to occur as it track southward. In some cases this would be combined with the tide forces, raising the tide even further, thus forcing salt water even further up the Thames, and cause flooding in the lower flood plains and salt water marches.

Location of John Willard’s Manors.

In the story of Christiana Elizabeth Constable during the time of marriage, they both live in London and near Hall. The London estate was located within an hours ride from central London by horseback to the west, up on the north bank of the Thames River located on a small hill. During the time they had lived there they were south of the road known as Fleet Street. A seven-foot high wall of stone surrounded the property with gates located about center of the property wide enough to allow two coaches to pass side by side. Contained inside the walls was a courtyard, with old oak trees that cast their shade in the summertime. Down a short drive, lead one to the main entrance of house. The footprint of the house if one looked from above was in the form of an H. This house was of timber design with a plaster finish in between the timbers.

The estate outside of Hall was on the main road to Beverley, known as Beverley Road, which does change name when one approaches Beverly to Hall: at the Y junction taking the right leg of the Y which would take one up past the Beverley Minister and would follow on the east shore line of the local river. The two-story estate was built by labors employed by John. To the east of the main road roughly halfway between the two towns laid a short driveway that would take one up a slight incline, as most of the land between Beverley and Hall was flat but with an in climb raising from the river that fronted Hall. Hall was the third largest port in England, and was consider a deep-water port. Berths, and warehouses for supplies for the fleet, and exporting and importing were located along the Northern Shore line of the river that fronted south of the town of Hall. When John acquired the land through inheritance, some fifty-five acres and a house that was built back in the 14 century, he set forth in having a new and larger home built to show off his wealth, and position in society. The gate contained the device of his family marking the entrance.

The Manor of Pheasant Hollow

John’s father being the first born to his family inherited the estate, and John being the only child alive inherited from his father the estate. This brought John back from London to his homeland to run his father’s business, and to open up other opportunities for him. His father made his monies in the importing and exporting business of goods from mainland Europe and from southern England. John noticing that the original house was in sad shape and small and was in much needed repairs decided with his monies, and some of Christiana’s inherited monies from and earnings from her pervious husband decided that it would be better to build new than fix the old place. During the time of construction, Christiana would stay in London with most of the servants, while John had the place built, but with some input on the design from Christiana, as she was head of the household, when it came to running the affairs of the household.

Employing a master carpenter, a rough design was drawn up both on rag paper and scratch on the ground showing where the rooms would be and the arrangement of the rooms with each other. If one were to look from the roof down, they would see the shape of an E for the footprint of the estate. The Foundation would be built of stone, but the inside framing would be built of oak timbers fasten together with wooden pins. The cutting of the timber from nearby oak trees was done by placing one man on top of the log the other in a pit, where the oak tree was cut into lumber and timbers. Later on the exterior walls would be stone cladding from a nearby limestone quarry, carted in on cart during the late spring to early fall. It would take two years before the estate would be completed along with the stables, hen house, and water well. Water was safer to drink from a well than from the nearby stream.

The older house was rented out after the completion of the house to a rancher known as McDowell that raised sheep, and paid a small percentage of his profit from the selling of sheep and wool to John. Eventually Christiana would collect from him after John died.

The layout of the house on the main floor with the two long legs of the E containing most of rooms and the short middle leg of the E being the entrance. The entrance would be grand with the large oak door surrounded by an oak jamb carved with Celtic designs and a Tudor arch over top, all inset into a stone Tudor arch of limestone. The entrance steps were done of cut Limestone. Once one had enter the house, greeted by the doorman, one would either turn right to the great room, or turn left to walk down a hall to the servant’s wing, or go straight ahead to the grand staircase.

The servants and utility wing at the base of the long E contained on the main floor was the kitchen with its massive fireplace, holding coffins, pipens for cooking. On the right side of the fireplace contained the ovens for cooking of bread, and on the left side of the fireplace contained the saltbox. Heat was used to keep the dampness from the salt, as moisture would make the salt one solid block. Barrels were kept in this area with fresh water brought in from the well for cooking. Off to the side of the fireplace was another room that house an outside door to the woodshed, where wood was kept for the purpose of cooking food. Coal was also available but this was for the servants to take to each of the fireplaces in a coal pail, within the estate, and used as a source of heat. The room was also located near the kitchen. A room that ran off to the center of the wing, contained the still room, which Kasper kept a key to, and the still master who brew wine and ale, mostly ale, as this was John’s favorite drink. Christiana preferred Claret wine, which was imported from France and sometimes under her permission was used in a few selected menus of her favorite dishes.

Beyond the kitchen but contained in the bottom leg of the E were two rooms, one fronting the inside of the E the other the outside of the E. Wooden tables trestle type were set in all threes rooms were meetings and cooking and the washing of dishes would occur. The servant’s meeting room served two purposes. Purpose one was the feast room for the servants of the house, Purpose two was the purpose of meetings when Christiana came down in the morning to issue orders for the day. Besides the reeve of the household, and was second in command, and held the key to the still, there were a number of servants. There were two cooks employed in John’s and Christiana’s service, but one of these cooks when not required would be responsible for keeping the kitchen fireplace fired up and during baking of the breads. The third was the still master, who took care of making ale. One was employed in the scullery to wash dishes, another was to make candles, and there were two that looked after the cleaning of the rooms, one employed on the second floor and one for the first floor who served two jobs, one being doorman. Kasper’s job besides being the reeve was also to look after the books for cost and supplies, used in the household and to act as the head servant, of the dining feast hall. Outside staff, was the stable keeper who looked after the horses, and the feeding of the animals. The gardener looked after the herb and vet gable, and sometimes the flower beds as this was the new trendy thing to do as more desired of the wealthy desire to have these types of gardens, and Christiana was no exception to this rule and one servant to deliver and handle coal from being unloaded to the coal room, and dispersed to the fireplaces contained within the manor. The last servant on the employment roster was the lady’s servant whose purpose was to look after the personal needs of Christiana. She would lie out the clothing for her, prepare the ruffs, and other personal items that Christiana needed. The annual cost with fringe benefits as gifts cost in around the 50-pound mark. The lesser servants earned 3 pounds while the reeve earned 5 pounds per year. John would supply the uniforms and a roof over there heads.

On the second floor of this wing, assessable by the servant’s stairway a rather narrow steep stairwell, one would come to a long hall containing 10 rope beds, rather pain that contained a personal chest for their belongings at foot of the bed. The room was kept warmed by the kitchen fireplace below. Off the end was another room connected to a short hall that ran from the gallery to the servant’s sleeping quarters. This room was the private room for the reeve, who had a rope bed similar to the servants, however he had two other items the others did not. A writing desk and two chest for storage of his personal items, and John one day gave him a carpet for his room, as he had ankle problems. The lady’s servant had a room off of Christiana’s bedchamber also known as a solar, which contained a rope bed, a chest and table where she could mend and prepare Christiana clothing.

Along the backside of the house looking inwards into the E, were four larger rooms that served as guest bed chambers, for John’s friends, however Christiana’s and John’s bedchamber were located on the opposite long E to that of the servant wing. The long gallery, serving as a large all that connected the legs of the E and all the chambers was where John had his hunting tapestry and painted portraits hung of his family. All these floors on the second level had rugs made in the Middle East, and chairs located along the inner wall of the gallery. Contained in these six rooms were carved wood furniture, of canopy beds on platforms, four posted tables, and wardrobe chests, and chairs. Candleholders of brass and silver, and each had a fireplace, except the gallery. The gallery would also serve as an overflow it John and Christiana had more guest showing up than what the bedchambers could hold. The house was set up in this manor in chase someday, which never happen, that Queen Elizabeth and her renfnew would visit which was a common belief among the wealthy class.

Furniture for the wealthy was made for comfort and also to show off their wealth, along with tapestries and rugs. As for Christiana, although a little different than the other wealthy ladies of her class, did enjoy working on special projects of her own. If not working with her husband, or working in the flower bed occasionally, or on the books of the household, would find a comfortable place where sunlight from the south would bathe the gallery room where she would work on her crewel, beading work or cross stitch project. This would happen after church on Sunday, or after a holiday, although sometimes she could be found down in the great room with her husband playing an indoor game. This would happen in the late fall to early spring, or when the weather was fowl, but during the summer, it was the hunt, and outdoor activities. One of the activities was archery, and hunting, but occasionally a training session with blunted rapier blades, where they would practice. (See survival skills) and training of her falcon.

On very special events, such as her husband’s birthday, she would wonder down to the kitchen and prepare a special dish, usually boar’s tail, and maybe something sweet to go with it, but most of the time the cook staff would look after the preparation and cooking of the food, mostly meat dishes and sweets, with the new world discovery of sugar, although honey was also used. Christiana never drank milk, as she would think of milk as an evil spirit that gave her, sever stomach cramps, but the rest did. She however loves aged cheese and preserves.

The stable was used to house several horses, and Christiana’s coach she receive as a gift from John and all the trappings. There was a forge in the back of the stable and a storage loft located above the stalls that hell the hay. The stable was made of timber and plaster, but the stalls did open out onto a courtyard of cobblestone. A room connected to the stable was the stable keeper’s bedchamber, and a small workshop, where repairs and shoeing of the horse could be done. On occasion, Kasper could be found out near the workshop, working on a carving, and on some days, when John was not at home, Christiana would do a little detail carving on wood. On other days, when the weather was fowl, and Kasper was caught up on his work, he would entertain with his singing and playing of the lute, or would be reading a sermon from the bible.

Times were to become a bit chaotic for Christiana when John passed away, but she did manage to hold the estate and John’s business together. (See skills).

The estate, when completed cost in around the 25 thousand pound mark, which John had to borrow some monies to finish the estate. John was short be 7 thousand pounds, but Christiana was able to manage to fine the monies needed to finish the estate. There was no loan taken from the moneylenders to finish the estate.

Features of London:

North of the Thames s a street known as Thames Street that connected to a number of street and terminated at the Tower. On this street could be found the dyers hall, fishmongers hall, the steelyard and the Vintners Hall. Two third of the way down a cross street called Fish Street was the connecting road that cross the Thames River known as London Bridge. During the time of Queen Mary, it was not uncommon to see people’s cutoff heads on poles displayed at the south end of the bridge. On either side of the bridge were shops, and the second floors and upwards contained residences. John when attending Bear Baiting on Thursdays would hire a boat to ferry him across to Bankside where the pit was located. St Paul’s a gothic church in architecture was located on the end of Fleet Street, which changed it name to Ludgate Hill and finally to Bowier Row. This is the church that Christiana went to while in London. Other guild halls were located within the city inside the wall, but the guild that John belong to while in London was called the Drapers Hall located to the west of Broad Street. For other streets that had names like poultry street, there would be located poultry for sale. Meats were shown on spits for sale, along with flowers and vegetables sold from carts.

Woodmongers Hall – North of Thames Street, west of Bread Street

Backsmith’s Hall – same as above

Glazier Hall – located North of Thames between Fish and east of Bread Street

Cutlers Hall, Tallow Chandlers Hall, Skinners Hall and Inn Holders Hall located on Dowgate Street that changes to Walbrook.

Merchants Tayor School center between Fish and Walbrook, located north of Thames Street.

Butchers Hall on the near the South East corner of Fish Street and Little East Cheap Street, the Bakers Hall located on Thames Street and Mark Lane. At the south end of Mark lane is the Custom House and Legal Quarys and at the north end where it terminates into Fenchurch Stree is the Clothworkers Hall, the Ironmongers Hall and to the west the laid the Pewterers Hall and to the east laid the Bricklayers Hall on Aldgate Street. There are other halls to numerous to mention but are located in the upper northern section of the walled City of London.

Gates: As London is a walled city to reach the heart one must travel through one of five gates.

Bowier Row (Ludgate) – West Wall: This would be the major gate that John and Christiana would travel through from their estate while residing in London.

Newgate Street (Newgate) – west wall, northwestern gate located north of Ludgate

Aldersgate Street (Aldersgate) – north wall, northwestern gate

Bishopsgate Street (Bishopgate) – North wall, northern gate

Aldgate Street  -Whitechapel (Aldgate) – East wall, northeastern gate

St. Bartholomew’s Hospital and the Sheep pens were located in Northwest London outside the walls between the gates of Newgate and Aldergate.

Features of Hall and Beverley

These were not large centers as one would find in London but Hall did serve as the third largest port for England. Keeping from the port city John had the estate built about half way between Beverley and Hall, placing it about three miles from the port city. It is roughly the same to Beverley, but because of the birth and her early years in Beverley, Christiana would do most of her business with the town of Beverley. As mention the main road that connected the two towns was the location of the estate, making it easy to travel to either center. The religious center for Christiana would be Beverley Minister and was also the town where a few close relatives still lived, where she would visit with them. Town market was located about a mile north of the left leg of the Y taking one into the town center. Here would be fresh lamb, mutton, pork and produce, and other market items for sale. Meat would not keep very well unless salted, or dried, so one member of the household, usually Kasper would go to market and pick up supplies for a couple of days at a time. Produce, and herbs came from the garden located at the estate, but fish, and shellfish came from Hall when the catch was brought in the evening. Red meats from Beverley on market days, but for sales of fabric and similar products, that was preformed in Hall. John during eve of his death, work mostly on the handling of the import, export business that he had inherited from his father, while Christiana under the direction of her husband would handle the draper business.

Pastimes and Hobbies

Christiana did have a few hobbies she enjoyed during, but were closely related to her skills of her trade, except one being of gardening.

It was fashionable for the wealthy to have fountains and gardens, and she was no different, as she enjoyed the scented perfumes of the flowers that grew on the estate, and the enjoyment of fountain trickling water. Although Christiana was directly involved in the making of the designing of the flower garden, the gardener would do most of the hard work in preparation of the beds, and of the fountain made of limestone. Christiana was involved in selecting and planting pre annual plants in the beds, of which she had favorites she love to grow and harvest the blooms to be used in the estate, along with some herbs. Christiana flowers of choice were roses, lilies, and irises, but she also enjoyed other flowers as well.

On a warm spring, summer and early fall day, after work, or after returning from church service being held in Beverley it was not uncommon for Christiana to take a stroll through the flower garden along the mature trees and her favorite flowers, maybe even stopping to pick a flower for herself, and maybe even for her love one, when he was accompanying her down the flagstone paths that lead up to center focal point of the garden, a fountain, with a statue spitting forth a small stream of water, that was built at the time of the estate construction. When she wished to be alone, away from the servants, and her husband, and away from the everyday duties bestowed on her, this was her place to relax and meditate letting her mind drifted away for a brief period.

When Christiana lived in London she also grew as a hobby a flower garden, of where she was able to obtain some of the seeds and plants to start the new garden in Beverley. As she was fond of certain flowers, she also liked a splash of colors during the seasons, and in order to have this splash of colors through the seasons she brought on her journey a number of seeds, and other bulbs and roots with her on her trip to Beverley.

From November to January, and with the nearby North Sea to keep the climate moderate, Christiana made an attempt at growing Holly, ivy, bays, rosemary, lavender, periwinkles in white, purple and blue varieties, and sweet marjoram.

During the latter part of January and February, crocus in yellow and grey, primroses, anemones, early tulips, and hyacinth. In March a splash of color and fragrant would drift across the garden from yellow daffodils, and daisy, with color coming from the violets. April would still see violets blooming, but were joined by the wallflower, gillyflowers, cowslips, and iris known as flower-de-luce, lilies of all kinds, tulips, and double peony. Christiana, had the gardener plant the shrubs and trees at the time of construction of the garden which aided in creating shelter for the delicate plants, and to help in creating in early blossoms. Christiana had firs trees and juniper planted to the north east and north of the garden, but she also had a few peach trees, apple trees, cherry trees and plum trees planted which begun blooming from early April through the late April. Some flowering trees that were planted to color were the lilac tree and French honeysuckle. May and June seen pinks of all sorts and roses which was towards the end of June, honeysuckle, and fresh strawberries which were consider a treat, combine and French marigolds. The cherry trees and raspberries would be making fruit and the apple trees would be in blossom.   

July seen all kinds of gillyflowers, and the plums in fruit ripening in August. When living at the London estate, she had another plant that grew, but was consider as a source of poison, known as monks hood. All parts of this plant were poison, but it had many different color blooms. September would see grapes, and apples, with poppies of all colors. In the vegetable garden would see fruit off the vine known as quinces. October and early November would see the cleaning up of the gardens, and pruning. To keep the damaging insect population down, she would let a few of the chickens roam the garden, which aided in keeping the insects downs and weeds from growing.

To run an Estate

In the morning, the reeve of the household under guidance of Christiana and or John had many duties to perform. A reeve also known a steward would be the chief officer of the estate, maintain a submissive and dutiful attitude towards the John and his wife, and to the lesser degree the children of John and Christiana. Both as Kasper duties and to set an example to the rest of the household staff, and assist John with sound advice and great deliberation, and to keep all of John’s secrets. Kasper job would manage all domestic servants, and attendants, and would recommend them for promotion. Be obeyed by the servants in all things whatsoever, no matter how inconvenient, unless the task is dishonest, illegal or harmful to John and his family. Regularly hold staff meetings of the servants and encourage and remind them of their duties. Remind them that they want to do well for the hope of reward and to contribute to both their own and John’s good name.

Kasper’s duties were with some discretion in punishments, including suspending the servants from duties. When Kasper fines them reformed, he can restore the servant to attendance, and bring the incorrigible and outrageous to John for his direct consideration, although John did give Christiana all of the rights that he control, this act of incorrigible and outrageous was between John and Kasper.

No servant was ever to appear before John and or Christiana out of livery, and the reeve would give appropriate notice if he was going to be away from the house for longer than normal so that John can find a replacement for the interim. Under no circumstances could Kasper appoint his own deputy. Kasper’s replacement was in term of ordering the household servants only, and not in charge of the receipts and payments. Kasper was accountable for those himself.

Kasper would have the power to appoint any of the household servants to carry messages to the neighbors or elsewhere with certain stipulations. He would never send the groom of the great chamber, or of the wardrobe unless informing the gentleman usher and or John and or, Christiana, or send anyone by horse without informing the gentleman of horses, and get permission in advance before sending any of John’s or and Christiana’s own chamber servants.

One of Kasper duties that he rather enjoyed was the discretion of any gifts or rewards known as vails given by guest to the house. Kasper was also responsible for taking inventory of all the plates and silver vessels in the house, including weight and type, and goldsmith’s mark on each and make a copy for the usher and another for John.

There were other responsibilities that the reeve was responsible for. These were but not limited to; make sure provisions are ordered and acquired which included beef, mutton, grain, livery badges, wood, coals, fowl, wines, salts, spices and fruits of all sorts. Make sure repairs are carried out as needed at the estate, both inside and outside, including maintenance of fence hedges, marshes, walls, and ponds. To distribute wages quarterly to the household servants and other manor employees, and to provide whatever each one is due in cash or kind. Deliver money as appropriate to the clerk of the kitchen for purchasing fresh supplies of anything not supplied by the manor, purveyors of beef and mutton, the gentleman of the horse for buying feed, equipment, and other necessaries for the stable, to collect bills and expense receipts from all these under-officers review and enter them in his log of accounts known as a livery book, to ride out into the pastures, marshes, and other grounds to see that they be not abused or disorder, either by his own bailiffs or anyone else that Kasper appoints, arrange to sell the hides, skins, horns, wool of any sheep or oxen slaughter for the table, arrange to dispose of the tallow from such sales, keeping part to make candles and rush lights, part for use in the kitchen and the rest to sell, get a receipt from anyone to whom the money is paid out, and make sure all receipts are filed for the annual audit, to sign off the livery book for all monies received from John to pay household expenses, each entry to be dated with name of person paid, location, and nature of the expense, and once a month to report to John with the livery book for review, and to be audited by John once a year.

Kasper job is not so much to see tat all staff or guests have rooms but was involved in that gentlemen should abide with other gentlemen and the yeomen with the yeomen. Privacy in general was rare and not much of valued, as everybody shares a room.

Kasper the reeve was responsible for the paying of the servants out quarterly to the staff of the manor on yearly quarters. The days are Lady Day, March 25; also know as the Feast of Annunciation. St John’s Day June 24 also known as midsummer day; Michaelmas, September 29, known as St Michael, and Christmas Day, December 25^th.

The household servants of the manor received between 2 to 5 pounds per year not adjusting for the vails and fines. Additional the staff would receive 2 to 3 suits of livery clothing per year pending their occupation within the manor. By the quarter the household staff would receive these wages.

            The laundress, cook, butler, and children’s nurse were paid 10s each.

            The youngest housemaid got 5s as did a part-time brewer

            The gardeners got 10s 6d each

As there was the manor’s ground to patrol occasionally a bailiff would had to be hired which was around 11s 8 d per quarter.

Some of the payment was made on the form of services in kind, instead of money, in the form of the amount of firewood, the use of land, or a number of fish from the stream located in behind the manor by the quarter. John’s tenants in Beverley, and tenants that Christiana inherited from her first husband may pay in part of their rents in kind through calves, honey, milk, wool etc,

As Kasper was responsible for purchasing goods for the manor, items that were used in the manor were sold in measurements and were sold by the:

These are:                                                                                             Are sold by the:

Butter, beer, herring, salmon and other fish, eels, tar, pitch                     Barrel

Gunpowder, wines.

Honey and other thick liquids                                                                Bolle

Sackcoth, sailcloth, and quantities of haircloth                                       Bolt

Hay, straw, wood, lime, rushes                                                             Cartload

(in smaller quantities, rushes are sold be the creel or the shoulder

load)

New coal, salt, quicklime, shells                                                            Chaldron

A 7 pound quantity of wood                                                                 Clove

Glass                                                                                                    Cradle

Hurdles, tanned hides, napkins, sheepskins, needles                               Diker

Candles (also sold be weight)                                                                Dozen

Linen and small lengths of haircloth                                                        Ell

Soft fruit                                                                                               Frail

Smaller quantities of goods otherwise sold by the barrel                        Firkin