DOMESTIC OBJECTS IN YORK c.1400–1600 Consumption, Neighbourhood and Choice Lisa Jane Howarth Liddy, MA PhD University of York History August 2015 Abstract Focusing on object assemblages as revealed by documentary and archaeological sources, this thesis explores the material culture of fifteenth- and sixteenth-century York households. It examines the range of objects available to York residents while investigating the ways in which they were used and displayed and the values attributed to them. The first chapter introduces the key research questions, concerning the nature of object assemblages, change over time and interdisciplinarity. It discusses the data sets used and contains an overview of the historiography of urban material culture and household archaeology in England. The second chapter explains the methodology adopted, including prosopographical scoping of the individuals whose possessions have informed this work. Using information provided by surviving buildings and probate inventories, the third chapter investigates the size and composition of York houses, focusing on the ways in which object assemblages inform the spaces found within. It argues that rooms were defined by their contents rather than their physical structure or placement, and challenges the definition and timing of “rebuilding” within the city. The fourth and fifth chapters explore various types of value attributed to object assemblages. The fourth chapter concentrates on financial value as assigned in inventories and revealed by discard practices, and advocates consideration of functional value, leading to an examination of specialization of work and organization of production. The fifth chapter focuses on affective value as revealed through testamentary description, proposing an original methodology for applying the history of emotions to material culture. The sixth chapter draws upon findings from previous chapters to present a detailed overview of an individual household at the end of the period: the Starre Inne on Stonegate, c.1580. The thesis concludes by addressing the key research questions, stressing the necessity of an interdisciplinary approach for the study of material culture, leading to a discussion of “neighbourhood”. 2 Table of Contents DOMESTIC OBJECTS IN YORK, c.1400–1600……………….………………. 1 Abstract……………………………………………………………………………………….. 2 Table of Contents……………………………………………………………………………... 3 List of Tables…………………………………………………………………………………. 11 List of Figures………………………………………………………………………………… 12 Acknowledgements…………………………………………………………………………… 14 Author’s Declaration…………………………………………………………………………. 16 CHAPTER 1. Introduction…………………………………………………………….. 17 Key research questions………………………………………………………………….. 17 The nature of object assemblages………………………………………………………. 17 Change over time……………………………………………………………………….. 18 Archaeological and documentary evidence: the issues………………………………… 21 Data sets…………………………………………………………………………………... 21 Archaeological data sets………………………………………………………………… 21 Historical data sets……………………………………………………………………… 24 Historiography…………………………………………………………………………… 27 Structure of the thesis……………………………………………………………………. 31 CHAPTER 2. Methodology and Prosopography ……………………………….. 32 Survival……………………………………………………………………………………. 32 Archaeological survival ………………………………………………………………... 32 Record survival ………………………………………………………………………… 34 Object survival within documentary sources ………………………………………….. 36 Interdisciplinarity………………………………………………………………………… 36 Selected York parishes…………………………………………………………………… 37 Methodology………………………………………………………………………………. 39 Prosopographical scoping of sampled individuals……………………………….…… 41 Gender and marital status……………………………………………………………….. 41 Occupation……………………………………………………………………………… 43 Wealth…………………………………………………………………………………... 46 Office-holding…………………………………………………………………………... 48 Geographic origins……………………………………………………………………… 51 Familial and household relationships between sampled individuals…………………… 53 Social networks…………………………………………………………………………. 56 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………… 57 CHAPTER 3. Houses and Households …………………………………………….. 58 3 Introduction………………………………………………………………………………. 58 Distribution of evidence…………………………………………………………………. 58 Houses: types and sizes………………………………………………………………….. 60 Rooms and spaces: occupation and inhabitation…………………………………….. 66 Halls…………………………………………………………………………………….. 67 Parlours…………………………………………………………………………………. 73 Chambers……………………………………………………………………………….. 76 Privy chambers…………………………………………………………………………. 79 Entries…………………………………………………………………………………... 79 Stairs…………………………………………………………………………………….. 80 Galleries………………………………………………………………………………… 80 Kitchens………………………………………………………………………………… 81 Other service rooms…………………………………………………………………….. 83 Butteries……………………………………………………………………………... 83 Boltinghouses………………………………………………………………………... 84 Brewhouses and gilehouses…………………………………………………………. 85 Larders………………………………………………………………………………. 86 Cellars and dyngs…………………………………………………………………… 86 Other food storage rooms…………………………………………………………… 87 Other interior rooms…………………………………………………………………….. 88 Outbuildings…………………………………………………………………………….. 88 Stables……………………………………………………………………………….. 88 Hay chambers……………………………………………………………………….. 89 Other outdoor buildings…………………………………………………………….. 90 Outdoor spaces………………………………………………………………………….. 90 Shops and workspaces………………………………………………………………….. 92 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………… 94 CHAPTER 4. Materiality and Value………………………………………………... 98 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………….. 98 The material character and range of domestic objects………………………………. 99 Changes over time: design and technology…………………………………………….. 101 Changes over time: language…………………………………………………………… 103 The financial value of objects…………………………………………………………… 105 Beds and bedding……………………………………………………………………….. 109 Clothing…………………………………………………………………………………. 113 Self-assessment of financial value……………………………………………………… 118 Financial value revealed through discard practices…………………………………….. 121 The functional value of objects………………………………………………………….. 123 4 Organization of production……………………………………………………………… 127 Specialization of work……………………………………………………………………. 129 Case study: the glaziers of York………………………………………………………... 131 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………… 136 CHAPTER 5. Affective Value: The Creation of Emotion through Objects. 138 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………….. 138 The affective value of object bequests………………………………………………….. 139 The affective value of religious objects………………………………………………… 141 The affective value of objects belonging to the testator’s body………………………... 150 The affective value of objects associated with past experiences……………………….. 153 The bequest of assemblages to regenerate households…………………………………. 157 Case study: John Chesman (d.1509)…………………………………………………… 160 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………… 162 CHAPTER 6. Case Study: The Starre Inne, c.1581…………………………….. 164 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………….. 164 Why study an inn?. ………………………………………………………………………. 165 The Starre Inne, c.1580: the building………………………………………………….. 169 The Starre Inne, c.1580: its occupants………………………………………………… 175 The Starre Inne, c.1580: its facilities…………………………………………………... 180 Common areas………………………………………………………………………….. 181 Guest accommodation…………………………………………………………………... 186 Household/staff accommodation………………………………………………………... 191 Other guest amenities…………………………………………………………………… 193 Service and storage areas……………………………………………………………….. 196 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………… 210 CHAPTER 7. Conclusion………………………………………………………………. 213 Object assemblages……………………………………………………………………… 213 Change over time………………………………………………………………………… 215 Regional differences……………………………………………………………………. 217 Decline, recovery and material culture…………………………………………………. 219 Archaeological and documentary evidence: the issues………………………………. 220 Defining the neighbourhood…………………………………………………………….. 221 Neighbours……………………………………………………………………………… 222 Neighbourliness………………………………………………………………………… 222 Neighbourhood…………………………………………………………………………. 223 The way forward…………………………………………………………………………. 224 5 Appendix. Objects: The Archaeological Evidence from York………………. 226 Furniture………………………………………………………………………………….. 226 Chests…………………………………………………………………………………… 226 Seating………………………………………………………………………………….. 226 Furnishings……………………………………………………………………………….. 226 Fixtures and fittings…………………………………………………………………….. 226 Wall hooks…………………………………………………………………………… 226 Rings………………………………………………………………………………… 227 Locks and keys…………………………………………………………………………. 227 Lighting………………………………………………………………………………… 227 Candlesticks…………………………………………………………………………. 227 Lamps………………………………………………………………………………... 227 Storage………………………………………………………………………………….. 228 Cooking and dining: kitchen equipment……………………………………………… 228 Food preparation………………………………………………………………………... 228 Cooking pots………………………………………………………………………… 228 Pipkins and grapen………………………………………………………………….. 229 Frying pans………………………………………………………………………….. 229 Skillets……………………………………………………………………………….. 229 Dripping trays……………………………………………………………………….. 229 Mortars and pestles…………………………………………………………………. 230 Cooking and fire utensils……………………………………………………………. 230 Food storage……………………………………………………………………………. 230 Cisterns and jars……………………………………………………………………. 230 Casks………………………………………………………………………………… 231 Trough………………………………………………………………………………. 231 Miscellaneous……………………………………………………………………….. 231 Cooking and dining: tableware……………………………………………………….. 232 Eating and drinking vessels…………………………………………………………….. 232 Plates and dishes……………………………………………………………………. 232 Bowls………………………………………………………………………………… 232 Lobed bowls………………………………………………………………………….