The life & priviledges of a medieval Landlord
Posted : 10/09/2015 | By Hayley Cowburn
Time for a little history... Landlords were first conceptualized in the Feudal age under the system of “manorialism”, which granted important economic and legal powers to the Lord of the Manor. These local landlords would usually become knights, who could be called into battle at any time.
During medieval times, the landlord will have lived in a huge house called the manor house and enjoyed acres of private woodlands. In addition he owned a village, agricultural land, a church and peasants. The landlord ruled over this land and even had the power to arrest people, hold court and decide punishments for crimes. Often a landlord would declare “It is my will” and the decision was made.
The Lord of the Manor’s tenants were his peasants, who he would keep safe in return for their services. The peasants lived in small enclosed homes spread around his land and earned their keep with the landlord by working on the land: farming, blacksmithing, baking and providing carpentry services. Often peasants were often under-nourished and worked for 6 long days a week. Sadly, many even died at a young age as a result.
Obviously things are very different in the present day. You might not be able to criminalise a tenant for breaking the washing machine or arrest someone for arrears, but several remaining Lords of the Manor have tried to exercise the ancient right to create new laws. Henry Armitage for instance tried to legalise shooting, hunting and fishing for himself in May 2012. Many of these manorial rights were discontinued in October 2013 and the remainder are still protested by various action groups.
So perhaps it’s best to value the history of the landlord and not expect the privileges it once granted hundreds of years ago. Today, landlords and ladies still hold the potential to be their own boss and earn a considerable amount of “passive” income - albeit wrapped in a shiny band of sticky red tape.
Sources:
Medieval Chronicles
The Daily Mail