Rich and Poor in Tudor Times
By Alex and Josephine

Before Tudor times the homes of the very rich people were more like castles than houses. They were designed to be safe from attackers. By 1500, the new cannons could break down even the thickest walls. So noblemen decided that if their  homes could not be safe, they might as well be comfortable. There was a craze for home improvement  and  new building.

When Henry closed all the rich Catholic monasteries he sold some of them to rich families who turned them into family homes.

Many rich people would leave money for the poor in their wills, this was to show God they were good and caring people, so that they could go to Heaven.

The class system in Tudor times meant that if you were born poor there was very little chance of you ever becoming rich.

Landowners had a great deal of leisure time. They built tennis courts, mazes and bowling alleys by their houses to amuse themselves and their guests. They also hunted deer with dogs and birds with hawks.

The poor;
After Henry closed all the monasteries, some monks were employed in Grammar schools. Monasteries had given help to the poor and sick. This food and shelter stopped when the monasteries were closed.

There were three different types of poor people in Tudor times;

1. There were vagabonds and rogues who could work but chose not to. They travelled in gangs stealing from villagers.
   
   
2. the able-bodied poor were those who wanted to work but couldn’t find a job.
   
   
3. The helpless poor, e.g. orphan children, sick, blind, lame
   and lepers.

When we were researching about the rich and poor in Tudor times we read a book that said the vagabonds had a special code so they could speak to each other without anyone understanding.

Can you understand this?
“Lots of coneys in the market for drawing. Bring your lifts to the boozing ken and we’ll get some peck.”

Answer;
Lots of people to rob in the market for pick pocketing. Bring your stolen goods to the inn and we’ll get some food.