Berkshire History for Kids: Medieval Hall at Ockwells (screens passage)

of Ockwells Manor - looking towards the screens passage

Medieval Great Hall of Ockwells Manor (looking towards the screens passage)

This picture is looking towards the screens passage in the great hall of Ockwells Manor at Cox Green near Maidenhead. The great hall was eating in and for meeting and entertaining guests.
The screens passage is behind the wooden screen with the two doors in it. It is a corridor running from the front door on the right to the entrance to the cloister running round the inner courtyard on the left.
You can see a servant bringing in some food from the kitchen at the other end of the cloister. he is wearing the livery of the Norreys family.
There is a gallery over the screens passage. Minstrels could entertain Sir John Norreys and his family from up there. What the people in the picture playing?
The is a fire place just out of the picture on the right. this would keep everybody warm.
On the left, you can see people eating. These are members of Sir John's household (people who worked in his house and on his land) or not very important guests.
Important guests and Sir John and his family sit at the other end of the hall. You can see Sir John's jester trying to make them laugh. Click here to turn around and see them all.