Cruck homes were used by peasants. These had a wooden structure with wattle and daub plastered on top. This was a mud, straw, and dung combination. The straw insulated the wall, while the manure was thought to be helpful for cementing the entire combination together and providing it strength.
Peasants usually lived in groups called "incorporations". These were usually found in villages but also in towns if there were enough workers available to form an organization. In the countryside, they often consisted of ten or twelve families who would work the land owned by the lord of the manor. In return for protection from criminals and trespassers, as well as some leeway with regard to certain regulations, they would receive part of the harvest. If a peasant died, his family would leave the incorporation and find work elsewhere.
In cities, workshops tended to use their own rules when organizing themselves into incorporations. They might require everyone working in them to do so, thus excluding children and other non-workers. They might allow only married men to join, others being considered too old or young. Sometimes they didn't even have a leader; instead, they would choose one of their members and make him responsible for setting things like wages and punishment. These kinds of arrangements could get complicated very quickly, with many different types of employment and no way for people to easily move between them.
Peasants were the individuals who cultivated the area around the castle. The majority of peasants lived in one- or two-room thatched houses with wattle and daub walls (woven strips of wood covered with a mixture of dung, straw, and clay)...
They wore simple clothes made from wool or linen. Underwear consisted of a loincloth. Men might wear trousers but they were an aristocratic fashion reserved for important occasions...
Women wore dresses or blouses with a skirt. They also wore underwear: a corset to support the chest and hide scars and paint the body, a petticoat to cover their legs.
Castles were the centers of power for kingdoms and countries. A king or queen would have a palace where they would live with their family and court. Sometimes there would be separate buildings for men and women...
Below the king or queen was the land. Farmers grew crops (usually wheat, barley, or rye) that were harvested once a year and stored over winter. They spent the cold months building up enough wealth to pay their taxes and buy food and supplies. If they didn't have enough money, they would go hungry.
Above the king or queen was the military. Soldiers fought wars to protect the kingdom or country from invasion or escape.
Small, single-room cottages were erected by the early English immigrants in America. Many of these houses were "wattle and daub." They had wooden frames with sticks filling in the gaps. After that, the holes were filled with a sticky "daub" consisting of clay, dirt, and grass. The roofs were made of wood or thatch.
Large houses were built by wealthy individuals. These usually had several rooms, a central hall running through the middle, and two sets of stairs leading up to the front door. There were also kitchens, pantries, dining rooms, living rooms, and other amenities inside the large houses.
Immigrants who came to the American colonies brought with them many ideas about house building. They arrived with skills as carpenters and builders but very few people knew how to read or write. So they often worked with people who could do this for them - such as lawyers, doctors, accountants, and land agents. These people would help immigrants find land to buy and then draw up legal documents relating to this sale. They would also help them build their homes.
In time, Americans began to develop their own style of house. The first white houses in America were built by colonists seeking refuge from the violence of the English civil war (1642-51). They wanted simple dwellings where they could live in peace with their families.
These new medieval homes were constructed from crude wood, mud, and straw. These Medieval dwellings not only gave additional space, but also protection from the elements, and peasants could finally light fires inside their own homes.
There were several reasons why people built houses in the medieval times. First of all, land was very scarce, so everyone wanted to have a house of their own. Also, having a house meant that you were able-bodied and could work the land. Last, but not least, a house could be easily defended; therefore, it was useful for farmers who needed protection from bandits or wild animals.
In conclusion, people built houses in the medieval times because there was no other choice and they needed more space to live and work in.
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