Medieval towns were much smaller than today and were particularly unhealthy. Some towns introduced regulations to keep streets clean, employing scavengers and rakers to remove waste. However, most attempts to keep towns clean failed.

Streets

• The upper storeys of houses jutted out into the street, limiting light and the circulation of air.
• There were no sewers, so household waste was thrown into the streets.
• There were large numbers of animals in towns, so there was a lot of manure left to rot. This attracted flies and vermin, which could spread disease.

Houses

• Houses were damp and this meant mould could grow. Damp, mouldy conditions could lead to respiratory problems and could also affect the immune system.
• The smoke from fires filled houses, causing respiratory problems.
• Wattle and daub walls and straw on floors attracted rats, lice and fleas, which spread disease.
• Clean water for washing was hard to find, so most people smelled and were dirty, although they did try to stay clean as much as they could.

Towns

In 1086, the Domesday Book listed over 100 places as "boroughs". These were gatherings of houses surrounded by a protective wall, and were the equivalent of towns. These towns grew in both size and wealth. However, only a small percentage of the population lived in them, as most of the country remained overwhelmingly rural.

London, with a population of around 23,000 people in 1377, was the country’s largest medieval town.