Random but Interesting Facts!
- Real or myth?~ When England fought France in the medieval times our arches were the most feared of warriors; when using a bow and arrow you use your first two fingers to pull the arrow, but when the French capture English arches they would cut of those to fingers, however we won the war so we used to mock them by sticking up those to fingers; over time it evolved into a common insult. It is debatable whether this is true or not.
- Do you know the inspiration for the rhyme "London bridge is falling down"?~ One of first London Bridges that were built and re-built, was wrecked in 1014, when the Anglo-Saxons rowed up the Thames; they tied ropes to it, and heaved it down.
- How many slaves? ~ In 1086 10% of the population, recorded in the Domesday Book, were slaves; in some areas, there were slaves that covered as many as 20%!
- Where have the Brown Bears gone?~ England was the native home of Brown Bears, but they became extinct around the 11th century, mainly because of the use of their fur (to keep warm) and the meat.
- Guilty or not?~ Oddly enough during the middle ages of England animals could be put on trial for crimes same as humans, they could even been sentenced to death if found guilty!?
- Where did Piggy banks come from?~ The 18th century word “Piggy bank” came from a medieval English expression “pygg jars”, pygg-is a type of clay. People of those times often made jars or pots made of pygg clay with slits to hold coins/ money.
- What is trail by ordeal?~ Trial bu ordeal was popular in medieval England, a lot of ordeals included having to endure physical pain e.g. being burnt by a hot iron or whipped; if the accused survived the task or their injuries mended quickly they would be found not guilty, it was believed that if the injuries mended quickly it was God performing a miracle.
- What are gargoyles?~ During the middle ages gargoyles were built, many people believe gargoyles ward off evil spirits; when you see them on Churches and old castles or buildings. What they were actually used for were drain pipes!
- Difference between Gargoyles and Grotesques?~The gargoyles are placed on a ledge so rain water flows out their mouths away from the building, so it doesn't go in the building to cause damage. There are other creatures that hang from buildings, however these are called grotesques and they do not spout water they are just for decoration.
- Angels or not?~ In the houses of Parliament there are angels on the inside structure beams and their faces are actually of people medieval times.