Lady of the ManorInteresting facts and information about life and the lives of men and women in the Medieval period of the Middle Ages The education of the Lady of the Manor The education of the lady of the manor was based on the service of others. At a very young age girls of the nobility were sent to the households of great ladies to receive a basic education in the duties of a lady. Daughters of knights would also be sent away from home. Nunneries were also used for this purpose. The lady of the manor would therefore have received her education in a wealthy household or in a nunnery. At the age of between twelve and fourteen she would enter society. With parental permission it was legal for boys to marry at fourteen and girls at twelve. She had no choice in her husband. Marriages were to do with wealth and alliances, not love. So at a very young age a young woman could assume the role and the duties of a lady of the manor. The Lady of the Manor - the land A manor varied in size but was typically between 1200 - 1800 acres. The land belonging to the 'Lord of the Manor' was called his "demesne," or domain which he required to support himself and his retinue. The rest of the land of the Manors were allotted to the peasants who were his tenants. A manor would typically include farming land, a village, a church and a Manor House. The Lady of the Manor - the land The Manor House was the place of residence for the lady of the manor and was built apart from the village where the peasants lived. The lord of the manor was all powerful over the peasants, holding privileges including Hunting and Judicial rights. The lady of the manor would assume responsibility for settling any disputes in the absence of her husband. The Lady of the Manor - the Manor House The Manor House varied in size, according to the wealth of the lord but generally consisted of a Great Hall, solar, kitchen, storerooms and servants quarters. In some cases a chapel might also be attached to a manor house. The Role of thelady of the Manor The role of the lady of the manor included ensuring adequate provisions were available at the manor. Purchasing items such as expensive materials and spices. She would be expected to assist or supervise the preparation of various foods and ensure that sufficient meat and preserves had been prepared for the winter months. Her major role was to provide children for the lord of the manor. The Lady of the Manor Children Large families were the norm in the Middle Ages as the mortality rate for children and babies was so high. Many woman made arrangements for the care of their children in case they themselves died during childbirth. The life expectancy of a woman in the Middle Ages was just forty years of age. Most Medieval woman would become pregnant between 4 and 8 times and a woman might expect to lose at least one child. Lady of the Manor Each section of this Middle Ages website addresses all topics and provides interesting facts and information about these great people and events in bygone Medieval times including Lady of the Manor. The Sitemap provides full details of all of the information and facts provided about the fascinating subject of the Middle Ages! Lady of the Manor- Middle Ages era, period, life, age and times
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