Afterwards servants and lesser guests would sleep on the floor ("Castles"). Originally the entire household lived, slept and ate in one hall, which was often shared by animals as well. Sometimes a hall would have a low loft over the little storerooms, with a ladder leading up to it, this was a private sleeping area for the baron and his wife. The floor of the hall would be of trodden earth or clay; and rushes would be thrown on the floor and strewn with sweet smelling herbs that would keep the air fresh and mask the whiffs of rotting food that had fallen from the tables (Sancha 34-38). Hanging huge tapestries dwelt with the perpetual dampness of the castle walls. Also to minimize the risk of fire, it was located in the center of the room, with the smoke rising out through a hole in the timber roof. Standards of comfort rose as conditions became more settled -- castles continued to become more elegant and less martial. The greatest sign of transformation was the garden entrance into the castle grounds. In regions with little warfare, this change came about earlier as the occupants were willing to risk safety for comfort ("Castles").
Even during the warmest months of the year, the castle retained a cool dampness and all residents spent as much time as possible enjoying the outdoors. Life during the Middle Ages began at sunrise, when one of the guards trumpeted the day's start. Servants had already begun to stir, ensuring the fires were lit, and getting the morning meal underway. Since breakfast was not served until between 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM, they had a few hours to fulfill their other chores while the stews or soups bubbled in the iron pots. Once the lord and his lady were out of bed, chambermaids ventured into their apartments, swept, emptied chamber pots and washed basins, and the laundresses also began the day's wash. The lord and the lady of the castle made sure they were tidy before they greeted their household or any guests, washing off with water from their basins while partially clothed to keep them warm.
