The region of Rhwng Gwy a Hafren, that is, the area between the Wye and Severn rivers in Wales, is very similar in appearance and climate to the Western foothills of the Cascade Mountains in Washington State. The winters are wet, but not overly cold (as winters go) the summers are mild and frequently damp. The hills are covered in all manner of trees (conifers and deciduous) and the undergrowth can be quite thick. The soil is rich and a great many things grown well there (wheat is a notable exception - too wet).
Pantyceffyl is located at the head of a small side valley about midway between Builth Castle and Pain’s Castle in the hills above the Wye River. The house itself, unlike many in Wales at the time is made of stone using the most modern architectural styles available in the mid-twelfth century.
Upon their return from Jerusalem Marguerite’s father rebuilt Pantyceffyl in the style of the manors they saw while traveling home through France. There is a lower croft that is accessible only from the outside and is used for storage. The main level must be reached by a wooden stairway from the courtyard about 1/3 of the way from the end of the building. At the far corner of the great room is a small tower with a spiral staircase to the upper floor. There are two fireplaces, one at either end of the hall. There is a room behind the fireplace wall opposite the staircase this is where the pantry is located (as well as Marguerite’s stillroom), providing storage for household linens, serving ware and a place to stage large meals. Upstairs are three rooms, the room at the far end belongs to Marguerite and Bjorn, the small room on the far fireplace wall is where Marguerite’s father, Sir William sleeps and the room in between (the largest of the three that used to be a dormitory for their sons), now houses guests or when there are no guests the serving girls (where they can be safeguarded) This room also serves as Marguerite’s solar during the day, where she supervises the women at their sewing and weaving.
Outside of the main hall, but within the wooden palisade are the out buildings: a small tower at the gate entrance containing weapons and a lookout perch, library and chapel, storehouse, barn (for carts, baskets & such), laundry, bakery, kitchen, 2 stables (one for horses, one for dairy cattle), mews, and dovecot. (Holmes 198)
Just outside of the walls is a dry ditch/moat with a wooden bridge over it. The immediate grounds contain the small wooden houses of the cook and chief huntsman, the smith, the steward and the priest and his family (there are also numerous wattle and daub houses for other servants who do not live in the main hall. Further away, but still close are the gardens, orchard and a small lake that is used as a fishpond (stocked regularly with live freshwater fish).
Bibliography:
Association Maitre Chiquart. Capitulary of Charlemagne. 2009. 14 08 2012 <http;//www.oldcook.com/en/medieval-cpitulary_charlemange>.
Bagley, John J. Life in Medieval England. London: Batsford, 1961.
Bartlett, Robert. England Under the Norman and Angevin Kings, 1075-1225. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000.
Carr, Anthony D. Medieval Wales. Houndmills, Basinstoke, Hampshire: MacMillan Press, 1995.
Creighton, Oliver and Robert Higham. Medieval Castles. Princes Risborough: Shire, 2003.
Fordham University. Medieval Sourcebook: Manorial Management & Organization, c. 1275. 16 February 2010 <http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1275manors1.html>.
Gerald of Wales, (Giraldus Cambrensis). A Journey Through Wales (1188). Trans. L. Thorpe. Penguin Books, 1978.
—. The Description of Wales (1188). Trans. L. Thorpe. Penguin Books, 1978.
Greig, Moira Kennedy and Colvin. "Remains of a 12th-century structure ans other medieval features on the Knoll of Castle Point, Troup (Cullykhan), Banff and Buchan." 1989. Archaeology Data Service. 24 August 2010 <http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/arch-352-1/dissemination/pdf/vol_119/119_279_296.pdf>.
Halsall, Paul. "Asnapium: An Inventory of One of Charlemagne's Estates, c.800." 1998. Medieval Sourcebook, Fordham University. 18 August 2010 <http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/800Asnapium.html>.
—. "Descrpition of Manor House at Chinngford, Essex, 1265." 1993. Medival Sourcebook, Fordham University. 18 August 2010 <http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/chingford.html>.
—. "Domesday Book: Hecham, 1086." 1996. Internet Medieval Sourcebook, Fordham University. 18 August 2010 <http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/hecham.html>.
Hindle, Brian paul. Medieval Roads and Tracks. Princes Risborough: Shire, 2002.
Holmes, Urban Tigner. Daily Living in the Twelfth Century. University of Wisconsin Press, 1966.
Kerr, Nigel and Mary. A Guide to Medieval Sites in Britain. London: Paladin-Grafton Books, 1989.
Metres, Kate. The English Noble Household, 1250-1600: Good Governance and Politic Rule. Oxford: B. Blackwell, 1988.
Ohler, Norbert. The Medieval Traveller. Trans. Caroline Hillier. Rochester: The Boydell Press, 2010.
"Peniarth Manuscript 28 - The Laws of Hywel Dda." National Library of Wales - Aberystwyth. 19 August 2008 <www.llgc.org.uk>.
Pettifer, Adrian. Welsh Castles: A Guide by Counties. Woodbridge: Boydell Press, 2000.
Rees, William. An Historical Atlas of Wales - From Early to Modern Times. London: Faber and Faber, 1972.
Round, John Horace. Feudal England: Historical Studies on the Eleventh and Twelfth Centuries. London: Allen & Uwin, 1964.
Small, Jeremy. "Timbers from a Viking Home found in Hungate Dig." 9 October 2008. The York Press. 27 October 2008 <http://www.thepress.co.uk/news/3740969.print/>.
Somerset-Fry, Plantagent. Castles: England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland: the Definitive Guide to the Most Impressive Buildings and Intriguing Sites. Cincinnati, OH: F+W Publications, 2005.
Tomkeieff, Olive G. Life in Norman England. London: B.T. Batsford, Ltd., 1966.
University of Leicester. "Hemington, Leicestershire." 26 February 2007. University of Leicester Archaeological Services. 18 June 2009 <http://www.le.ac.uk/ulas/projects/hemington.html>.
Walker, David. Medieval Wales. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990.
Williams, Gwyn A. When Was Wales?: A History of the Welsh. London: Black Raven Press, 1985.
Pantyceffyl is located at the head of a small side valley about midway between Builth Castle and Pain’s Castle in the hills above the Wye River. The house itself, unlike many in Wales at the time is made of stone using the most modern architectural styles available in the mid-twelfth century.
Upon their return from Jerusalem Marguerite’s father rebuilt Pantyceffyl in the style of the manors they saw while traveling home through France. There is a lower croft that is accessible only from the outside and is used for storage. The main level must be reached by a wooden stairway from the courtyard about 1/3 of the way from the end of the building. At the far corner of the great room is a small tower with a spiral staircase to the upper floor. There are two fireplaces, one at either end of the hall. There is a room behind the fireplace wall opposite the staircase this is where the pantry is located (as well as Marguerite’s stillroom), providing storage for household linens, serving ware and a place to stage large meals. Upstairs are three rooms, the room at the far end belongs to Marguerite and Bjorn, the small room on the far fireplace wall is where Marguerite’s father, Sir William sleeps and the room in between (the largest of the three that used to be a dormitory for their sons), now houses guests or when there are no guests the serving girls (where they can be safeguarded) This room also serves as Marguerite’s solar during the day, where she supervises the women at their sewing and weaving.
Outside of the main hall, but within the wooden palisade are the out buildings: a small tower at the gate entrance containing weapons and a lookout perch, library and chapel, storehouse, barn (for carts, baskets & such), laundry, bakery, kitchen, 2 stables (one for horses, one for dairy cattle), mews, and dovecot. (Holmes 198)
Just outside of the walls is a dry ditch/moat with a wooden bridge over it. The immediate grounds contain the small wooden houses of the cook and chief huntsman, the smith, the steward and the priest and his family (there are also numerous wattle and daub houses for other servants who do not live in the main hall. Further away, but still close are the gardens, orchard and a small lake that is used as a fishpond (stocked regularly with live freshwater fish).
Bibliography:
Association Maitre Chiquart. Capitulary of Charlemagne. 2009. 14 08 2012 <http;//www.oldcook.com/en/medieval-cpitulary_charlemange>.
Bagley, John J. Life in Medieval England. London: Batsford, 1961.
Bartlett, Robert. England Under the Norman and Angevin Kings, 1075-1225. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000.
Carr, Anthony D. Medieval Wales. Houndmills, Basinstoke, Hampshire: MacMillan Press, 1995.
Creighton, Oliver and Robert Higham. Medieval Castles. Princes Risborough: Shire, 2003.
Fordham University. Medieval Sourcebook: Manorial Management & Organization, c. 1275. 16 February 2010 <http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1275manors1.html>.
Gerald of Wales, (Giraldus Cambrensis). A Journey Through Wales (1188). Trans. L. Thorpe. Penguin Books, 1978.
—. The Description of Wales (1188). Trans. L. Thorpe. Penguin Books, 1978.
Greig, Moira Kennedy and Colvin. "Remains of a 12th-century structure ans other medieval features on the Knoll of Castle Point, Troup (Cullykhan), Banff and Buchan." 1989. Archaeology Data Service. 24 August 2010 <http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/arch-352-1/dissemination/pdf/vol_119/119_279_296.pdf>.
Halsall, Paul. "Asnapium: An Inventory of One of Charlemagne's Estates, c.800." 1998. Medieval Sourcebook, Fordham University. 18 August 2010 <http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/800Asnapium.html>.
—. "Descrpition of Manor House at Chinngford, Essex, 1265." 1993. Medival Sourcebook, Fordham University. 18 August 2010 <http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/chingford.html>.
—. "Domesday Book: Hecham, 1086." 1996. Internet Medieval Sourcebook, Fordham University. 18 August 2010 <http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/hecham.html>.
Hindle, Brian paul. Medieval Roads and Tracks. Princes Risborough: Shire, 2002.
Holmes, Urban Tigner. Daily Living in the Twelfth Century. University of Wisconsin Press, 1966.
Kerr, Nigel and Mary. A Guide to Medieval Sites in Britain. London: Paladin-Grafton Books, 1989.
Metres, Kate. The English Noble Household, 1250-1600: Good Governance and Politic Rule. Oxford: B. Blackwell, 1988.
Ohler, Norbert. The Medieval Traveller. Trans. Caroline Hillier. Rochester: The Boydell Press, 2010.
"Peniarth Manuscript 28 - The Laws of Hywel Dda." National Library of Wales - Aberystwyth. 19 August 2008 <www.llgc.org.uk>.
Pettifer, Adrian. Welsh Castles: A Guide by Counties. Woodbridge: Boydell Press, 2000.
Rees, William. An Historical Atlas of Wales - From Early to Modern Times. London: Faber and Faber, 1972.
Round, John Horace. Feudal England: Historical Studies on the Eleventh and Twelfth Centuries. London: Allen & Uwin, 1964.
Small, Jeremy. "Timbers from a Viking Home found in Hungate Dig." 9 October 2008. The York Press. 27 October 2008 <http://www.thepress.co.uk/news/3740969.print/>.
Somerset-Fry, Plantagent. Castles: England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland: the Definitive Guide to the Most Impressive Buildings and Intriguing Sites. Cincinnati, OH: F+W Publications, 2005.
Tomkeieff, Olive G. Life in Norman England. London: B.T. Batsford, Ltd., 1966.
University of Leicester. "Hemington, Leicestershire." 26 February 2007. University of Leicester Archaeological Services. 18 June 2009 <http://www.le.ac.uk/ulas/projects/hemington.html>.
Walker, David. Medieval Wales. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990.
Williams, Gwyn A. When Was Wales?: A History of the Welsh. London: Black Raven Press, 1985.