Rushes versus matting

Jess wrote: "Would the rushes have been dried and thus more or less inert?" Doug here: How about considering rushes as a combination of pot poirri (sp?) to freshen the rooms *and* the medieval equivalent of that oily sawdust stuff used to clean/brighten wooden floors? Possibly banked along the sides of the rooms until needed. Rather than spread around to be continuously trod on, the rushes would provide a bit of freshness until needed to "clean" the floors? And with mats laid down much in the same manner as today's "red carpet" at ceremonies or, better still, flattened out versions of carpet runners on stairs? Doug (looking at it from the perspective of someone who *hates* housework)

About right Doug, including the pot pourri! Consult Ian Mortimer's Time Travellers Guide, where there is a marvellous description of the floors of inns and common houses with horse and dog dung brought in on shoes from the street! Let alone the waft from the privy which had to be carried by some poor soul to empty it each day. Would seem that in noble houses the rushes were changed more often and there might be the odd carpet - if it wasn't on the bed.

On Monday, 4 November 2013, 14:19, Douglas Eugene Stamate <destama@...> wrote:
Jess wrote: "Would the rushes have been dried and thus more or less inert?" Doug here: How about considering rushes as a combination of pot poirri (sp?) to freshen the rooms *and* the medieval equivalent of that oily sawdust stuff used to clean/brighten wooden floors? Possibly banked along the sides of the rooms until needed. Rather than spread around to be continuously trod on, the rushes would provide a bit of freshness until needed to "clean" the floors? And with mats laid down much in the same manner as today's "red carpet" at ceremonies or, better still, flattened out versions of carpet runners on stairs? Doug (looking at it from the perspective of someone who *hates* housework)