Meet the Middle Ages
BackWorkers and servants
There were all sorts of people in the towns, rich merchants as well as poor beggars. Most town-dwellers were not citizens, but servants, merchants’ assistants, maids, house-keepers, apprentices, casual workers and beggars.
Rich merchants and craftsmen kept servants who took care of their cooking, baking and laundry. The servants also grew vegetables on the plots near town, and looked after the hens, pigs and horses of their employers. Merchants had assistants who controlled the goods and helped at the office. The merchant often had journeymen and apprentices who belonged to his household.
Large towns attracted casual workers. When the ships came in, a lot of people were needed in the harbour to unload the goods. The merchants then employed a number of workers.
At celebrations and feasts, the vagrants and beggars came to town, hoping they would get their share of all the good food that was on offer.