UrbanLife2

Urban Life in Elizabethan England During Shakespeare’s era, life in London and other urban areas of England varied depending on a person’s status. London was England’s center of government, finance, and culture. Because of its size, life in London was very different than that of other urban areas of England. The division between the wealthy and the needy populations of London, during Shakespeare’s time, was increasing, and there were vast differences in everyday life for its citizens.

London was experiencing enormous growth during Shakespeare’s time. People were moving from the country and immigrating from foreign countries in search of work. As the population grew, the boundaries of the city were being stretched to the limit. According to Nerina Shute in her book, __London Villages__, the city of London can be described as a “collection of villages each separate and independent” (11). Smaller villages were important to London because “such small centers were important for their markets and courts of justice” (Kermode, 43). Londoners traded their goods for the agricultural products of the smaller villages. The ports of Bristol, Dover, and Southampton, as well as Norwich, the center of the wool trade, were the next largest cities behind London (Kermode, 43). “Church and Crown provided common ground” between London and the smaller villages that surrounded it (Kermode, 43). Life in smaller villages centered around their parish church. The official religion was the Church of England. Everyone was required to go to church service, or prayer service, once a month or face a fine. During Shakespeare’s time, Queen Elizabeth I was a popular ruler and was beloved by her subjects. A visit by the queen was a special occasion and cause for a huge celebration in a small village or town (Kermode, 43).

Whether you lived in London, or one of the smaller towns or villages, if you weren’t born into a wealthy family, you needed to make a living doing something. What were some of the occupations of the citizens of these cities? Book publishing was a fast growing occupation in London during this time. A shopper could stop by St. Paul’s bookstalls and purchase a “sermon, or a sixpenny quarto of a play, or almost any other sort of book” (Kermode, 44). Books were becoming a way of life. Ladies bought copies in order to “trace the illustrations in their embroidery” (Harkness, 15). A person selling cloth was a Mercer. If you wanted to buy a hat, you would visit a Milliner or Hatter. A Farrier would take care of shoeing your horse. A Fletcher sold arrows. After visiting the Barber Surgeon, or dentist, you might have to stop by the Apothecary, or drugstore. A person of wealth would employ a Man of Business as his accountant. That same person might have a Steward overseeing the running of his estate, a Factor to take care of his business in the city, a Nurse to look after his infant or young children, and a Tutor to educate his children (Sacara). Butchers and glovers were prominent figures in their villages (Kermode, 46). Skilled craftsmen had immigrated from Venice and Antwerp (Harkness, 21). There were shipyards, foundries, glass factories, and tile works. Many wealthy citizens had money available and were ready to invest in projects (Harkness, 144).

Just like occupations, homes in Shakespeare’s London and other urban areas varied based on a person’s status in the community. London was a busy, crowded, commercial city. The streets were “muddy, narrow and noisy, and they reeked of the slops that were spilled from second-story windows” (Horizon Magazine, 33-34). According to “Life in Elizabethan England; A Compendium of Common Knowledge” on the Elizabethan website, the houses were crammed together and chamber pots were emptied out of the windows onto the alleys or streets. Lime Street, according to Deborah Harkness, author of __The Jewel House: Elizabethan England and the Scientific Revolution__, was a prosperous area with “fine houses for merchants and others” (20). Lime Street had many surgeons and apothecaries, and Italian, French and Flemish immigrants living there. Other areas had old houses converted into apartment-style residences or tenements (Harkness, 20). Many merchants occupied the first floor of homes. The wealthier the merchant, the more floors there would be in the building above. According to //“//Black and White Tudor Buildings”, an article on the Tudor History Web Ring website, a wealthy merchant would have elaborately carved beams on their building and a less prosperous merchant would not.

In the smaller villages surrounding London, small Tudor cottages surrounded the parish church. There were several riverside mansions occupied, or visited, by aristocrats and rich merchant families (Shute, pg 46-47). In her book, __London Villages__, Nerina Shute speaks of a village called Battersea and the close bond between the villagers and the St. John Family. The St. John Family lived in a large manor house surrounded by cottages. According to the author, the villagers depended on the St. John Family and were taken care of by them (Shute, 46-47). Life in London and other urban areas of England during the era of William Shakespeare can be described as a time of social, economic and cultural class differences. If you were a person of means in London, you were able to live comfortably with, perhaps, a home in the city and a manor house in the country, and plenty of food and luxuries as well. However, life for the less fortunate meant working hard to make ends meet, a small apartment and barely enough food to get by on. There were two things that all citizens were united on, their religion and the adoration of their queen.

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