London in the 14th Century Trivia Quiz

Answer: All of these

London Bridge had nineteen huge arches spanning the Thames. The surface was twenty eight feet wide with buildings taking up seven feet on either side. These were cantilevered a further seven feet out over the river. Merchants had their dwelling places above the shops.

The chapel, halfway along the bridge, was dedicated to St Thomas. At the southern end of the bridge there was a drawbridge that could be raised to prevent access to the city by enemies.

Answer: St Paul's Cathedral

Construction of (fourth) St Paul's Cathedral was started in the 12th century and was finished in 1314. It was the most impressive cathedral in the country and at 585 feet long was the third longest in Christendom. It had a towering spire 489 feet tall, taller than that of Salisbury Cathedral and surpassed only by that of the Lincoln Cathedral.

Its most notable features, however, were the magnificent rose window at the eastern end and its beautiful chapter house, the meeting room for the bishop and priests.

Answer: The Tower of London

Most of the visible parts of the Tower, including the moat, were built in the 13th century. By the 14th century it had changed from being primarily a defensive structure to a royal palace which included a great hall, royal solar (private living room) and a multitude of other chambers necessary for the maintenance of the royal court and its staff.

In addition, the tower housed the royal mint, a royal library and the royal menagerie, which held a collection of lions, leopards and other big cats.

Answer: The Romans

The original walls were built by the Romans to protect their city, Londinium. In the 14th century they were an amazing sight, being eighteen feet high and six to nine feet thick. There were seven great gatehouses: Ludgate, Newgate, Aldersgate, Cripplegate, Bishopsgate, Aldgate and Bridgegate, which led on to London Bridge. Each gate had massive oak doors which were secured at night by heavy drawbars.

In times of war the whole city could be defended as if it were a huge castle.

Answer: Jousts and tournaments

Jousts and tournaments were popular entertainments as well as providing military training for those taking part. Smithfield was also the site of the main meat market for London. A popular gathering place, it was the site of the three day fair which was held to celebrate St Bartholomew's Day (24th August).

Answer: Westminster Palace

The ancient great hall, site of many feasts, was built in the 11th century. In the 14th century Richard II replaced the old twin aisle layout with an incredible single span roof. This was one of the greatest carpentry achievements of any age. As well as the government chambers here, too, were various private royal residences while across the courtyard stood a belltower which had hanging within it 'The Edward', a four ton bell which was the forerunner of Big Ben.

Answer: Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey is still one of the most important Gothic buildings in the country. In the 13th century, on the instructions of Henry III, it was almost entirely rebuilt at a cost of more than £41,000, making it the second most expensive building in medieval England.

Henry III and other monarchs of the time were buried there. It had beautiful wall paintings (some of which can still be seen) and contained the shrine of Edward the Confessor, plated with gold and encrusted with precious jewels.

Answer: Tyburn

A gallows stood permanently at Tyburn where Tyburn Road and Watling Street met under the tall elm trees near the Tyburn stream. Executions took place there almost every day as the rate of violent crime in the capital was high. Executions always attracted an audience and the best attended were those of high-ranking traitors, such as Roger Mortimer in 1330.

His naked body was left hanging on the gallows for two days.

Answer: John of Gaunt

Although there were other palaces in London, the best postion to live was on The Strand because it had access to the historic waterway of the Thames and was at a distance from the crime, insanitary conditions, appalling smells and the threat of fire that existed in the city itself. Edward III, whose reign made England the greatest military power in Europe, lived there in his youth.

His son, John of Gaunt, made it into the most spectacular townhouse in the country. It was burnt down during the Peasant's Revolt in revenge for the poll tax that John of Gaunt was blamed for imposing.

Answer: Prostitution

Stews were another name for bath houses. In the 14th century prostitution was forbidden in London, except in one street, amusingly named Cock Lane. Here men could eat, drink, have a hot scented bath and spend time in female company. In 1374 there were 18 establishments, all run by Flemish women.

At this time there were few sexually transmitted diseases and fidelity in marriage was only required of the wife. Most of the properties there were rented from the Bishop of Winchester.