Evie Summers
Inns have been around for centuries, with references to them found in medieval literature, such as Chaucer's work. In the Middle Ages, inns were often used by merchants to store their goods while travelling and to network with other merchants. They were also used by travellers, who would pay to sleep in a bed, often sharing with strangers due to the high cost of beds. Inns were typically located near other 'facilities' required by travellers, such as brothels and bathhouses. Today, inns or guesthouses continue to provide accommodation and other services to travellers, with employees manning the front desk, making breakfast, and cleaning rooms.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Inn signs | Used pictures as advertising since many people were illiterate |
| Inn guests | Adventurers, foreigners, transient English, Scots, peasants, artisans, merchants, pilgrims, clerics, royal officials, nobles, knights, robbers, prostitutes, con men |
| Sleeping arrangements | Guests slept in a room with up to a dozen beds, each holding three or four people. They might share a bed with one or more strangers. |
| Privacy | None. The sexes were segregated. |
| Innkeepers | Some were wealthy and trustworthy, acting as brokers, money changers, and goods storage providers. |
| Inn staff | Front desk agents, night auditors, and laundry attendants |
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What You'll Learn
Inns in Medieval Europe
Inns varied in size, but high annual turnovers in rent demonstrate the potential for considerable profits. This generated heavy investments from institutions such as monasteries and university colleges, as well as individual lords. For example, Winchester College spent more than £400 on the Angel Inn in Andover from 1366 to 1404, hoping to get a yearly revenue of £10. While this particular investment fell short of expectations, it did generate between £7 and £10 from 1456 to 1532.
Inns were generally located in central locations such as the town square, or in places where trade roads met. They typically consisted of a hall, kitchen, stable, storage, chambers, and accommodation for the innkeeper. Many chambers offered only communal sleeping, but private and locked rooms became more prevalent over time. Inns also acted as centres for the marketing of products such as fish, beer, wine, and cloth. Innkeepers were generally wealthy and prominent members of society, often participating in local government and acting as expediters and banking agents.
While inns were common, it was also typical for travellers to be given board and lodging by locals, especially those higher up the social hierarchy. Travellers would also stay at monasteries or the houses of people of similar social ranking.
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Inns as storage
Inns have served as more than just a place to rest for weary travelers; they have also provided a valuable service as storage facilities. This aspect of innkeeping was especially important in the days before modern transportation and when travel could be unpredictable and dangerous. Inns offered a secure place to store goods and belongings, providing peace of mind to travelers and merchants alike.
The role of inns as storage facilities was multi-faceted. Firstly, they provided a safe place to keep personal belongings while travelers stayed the night. In an era when travel was often done on horseback or by carriage, and space was limited, leaving excess baggage at an inn made traveling lighter and more comfortable. Inns typically had secure areas, such as locked rooms or cellars, where travelers could store their valuables, ensuring their peace of mind during their journey.
Moreover, inns often served as warehouses for merchants conducting trade over long distances. Before the advent of modern shipping and logistics, transporting goods was a challenging endeavor. Merchants would use inns as temporary storage facilities, leaving their goods there until they could be sold or transported further. This was especially common for valuable or perishable items, such as spices, silks, or luxury goods, which required secure storage.
In addition to providing storage, inns often acted as centers for trade and commerce. They served as meeting places for merchants, facilitating the exchange of goods and information. Inns located along popular trade routes or in bustling market towns often had large storage areas to accommodate the needs of traveling merchants. These storage facilities were not only used for the safekeeping of goods but also played a crucial role in the local economy, as they enabled the flow of goods and supported commercial activities in the region.
The role of inns as storage facilities was a significant aspect of their operation, and it contributed to the development of trade and travel. Today, while modern transportation and logistics have reduced the need for long-term storage at inns, the concept of secure luggage storage at hotels and other accommodations continues to provide convenience and peace of mind to travelers.
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Sleeping arrangements
In the 14th century, inns were common and catered to a wide range of people, from adventurers and foreigners to merchants, pilgrims, nobles, knights, and robbers. These inns were often located near other 'facilities' required by travellers and merchants, such as brothels and bathhouses.
Beds were so valuable that good ones were often dismantled when the owner travelled and reassembled at their destination. Merchants would also use inns to store their goods while they were transported from one place to another, relying on a network of trustworthy innkeepers across Europe. These innkeepers had the capital to pay tolls and taxes, deal with officials, and organise carriers for the next stage of the journey.
While the physical evidence of most of these medieval inns has vanished, a few have survived, at least in part. For example, an inn established by Nicolas Flamel in Paris in 1407 served as an early charity for itinerant workers.
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Inns and social class
The existence of a class system dates back to ancient times, and the concept of social class has been a significant aspect of society throughout history, including in the context of inns and hospitality.
Inns played a crucial role in the social landscape of the eighteenth-century British town, serving as gathering spaces for various activities. The "principal inn," located in the heart of the town, was a venue for dining, drinking, socialising, business dealings, meetings, and even legal and religious proceedings. These inns were meticulously designed, with refined interiors and furnishings, reflecting the elite's control of urban space and reinforcement of social hierarchies and values.
During the Middle Ages, the concept of privacy as we know it today did not exist in inns. Travellers often found themselves sharing rooms and beds with other guests, including strangers. Beds were expensive, and it was common for multiple people to share a single bed. Inns typically had a basic layout, including a hall, kitchen, stables, storage area, a common sleeping chamber, and sometimes private rooms.
The role of the innkeeper was also shaped by the social dynamics of the time. Innkeepers came from diverse backgrounds, and some were wealthier and more trustworthy than others. They were responsible for receiving and entertaining strangers, providing quality goods and services, maintaining security, and even acting as brokers or money changers for foreigners.
The existence of inns and their role in society was influenced by the class structure of the time. The development of inns as social gathering spaces and the dynamics of sleeping arrangements reflected the social and economic hierarchies prevalent in British society during the eighteenth century.
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Inns and advertising
Inns became a prominent feature of the economic landscape in England after 1300–1350. They were big business, and innkeepers were prominent and wealthy members of society. Inns played a vital role in the evolving economic, social, and political life of the nation in this period.
As inns became more common in the 14th century, they began to put up signs with pictures (as many people were illiterate) as a way of advertising themselves. Inns were also frequently located near other 'facilities' required by travellers and merchants, such as brothels and bathhouses.
Inns were more than just a place to sleep. They were also a marketplace, a warehouse, and an occasional bank. Innkeepers often engaged in outside commercial activities such as brewing, importing wine, and cloth trading. They acted as centres for the marketing of diverse products, including fish, beer, wine, and sometimes cloth.
Merchants built up a network of inns across Europe, whose owners could be trusted not to steal or cheat. Innkeepers were often wealthy and part of the urban elite, taking part in local government and acting as expediters and banking agents. They might have to hold goods for some time, waiting for ships, boats, carts, or horses to transport them to the next stage of the journey. This required capital, as storing and sending goods on could involve paying tolls and taxes, dealing with officials, and organising and paying carriers.
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Frequently asked questions
Travellers generally shared a room with multiple beds, each holding three or four people. It was common for strangers of the same gender to share a bed. Private and locked rooms were available but were less common.
Inns generated substantial rent and were a great way to increase a lord's revenue. Innkeepers were among the rich and influential members of the town and often took part in local government.
If there was no space for travellers at an inn or monastery, they would have to sleep outside the town, which was unsafe and uncomfortable. Nobles could sometimes find hospitality with a fellow noble.
Inns typically consisted of a hall, kitchen, stable, storage, chambers, and accommodation for the innkeeper. They also provided food and drinks, including wine and other alcoholic beverages.
