The problem with researching the past is that often not much remains of the time you’re delving into. This is especially true of medieval times, and in particular of the early Middle Ages. I was happy therefore, to discover that in the city of Amersfoort a full-scale replica of an early medieval farm had been built, and that it was open to visitors on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons.
Early medieval farm with its yard
Having time last Wednesday and seeing that the weather was good, I bought a ticket for the one-and-a-half hour train journey from my hometown to Amersfoort central station. Once there I changed to a bus that took me to within a 10-minute walk of the park in which the farm was built.
I had no idea really what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised when I walked through the gate. It felt like I had stepped back in time. A large farm with thatched roof was situated to the left of the yard, which was divided into parts for animals and parts for growing vegetables. Some smaller buildings, also thatched, surrounded the farm. To my right was a large enclosed field with some sheep and goats. To my left was a vegetable garden, as yet without any crops, but clearly made ready to receive seeds as soon as the weather became a bit warmer.
The vegetable garden
I walked up to the main farm building. It was narrow and long with a low overhanging roof that protected the wattle and daub walls from the weather. About two-thirds along the side an entrance was protruding outward. As I came closer a brown and white goat suddenly appeared from inside, into a pen that was constructed along the wall. It had two enormous horns that twisted away from its head to the left and right. The sound it made was rather unexpected. Somehow, judging its size and horns, I had expected it to make a low, ferocious sound, but what came out was a soft, high goatee bleat – very cute.
The farm itself
The entrance to the living area of the farm
The goat
A lady appeared. Her name was Marian and she turned out to be the caretaker and as we walked around the farm, she told me a few interesting facts about it.
A few decades ago, archaeologists had found the remains of an old farm during a dig in what was Dorestad. These remains were very scant, not more that some dark spots in otherwise yellow sand. Nevertheless, they had recognised in the spots an early medieval farm and decided to rebuild it as an archaeological experiment. Building started in 1990 and took just over a year. They used modern tools, but original materials to save time. Not only did they recreate the farm itself, but also its yard and gardens, which over time were planted with old types of vegetables. Animals were added – goats, sheep, a pig and chickens. A group of volunteers was formed that looked after the farm. On certain days these volunteers dressed up in period clothes to show visitors how peopled had lived in the early Middle Ages.
Inside the farm, it was very dark and it took a while for my eyes to get used to it. A living area, with hearth and bed spaces, was separated from the barn area, where there were the inside pens of the goat and a pig. It all felt very cosy and in a romantic sense, I could imagine myself living there. But obviously, life would have been hard. Completely self-sufficient it would have been a disaster if a bad harvest had happened – no supermarkets around the corner to get some more groceries. Life expectancy would have been between 35-40 and medical care not available.
The living area with a hearth and sleeping spaces along the walls
The barn with pens for the animals
Having seen the whole farm and its yard, I thanked Marian for the information and said I would love to come back some weekend when the volunteers were dressed up and acted out a medieval life. I am sure it would bring me one-step closer to Radbod, for although he was from a noble family and a bishop, I am sure he was familiar with these sorts of farms.
On the train back home, I wished that I lived closer to Amersfoort. It would be a lot of fun to see the farm throughout the different seasons, but for now, I had to content myself with having spent a few hours in the early Middle Ages.
For more pictures of the medieval farm please visit my Facebook Page.
Absolutely beautiful!
Thanks. :)
I have so much admiration for people who go to the effort of not just preserving history, but bringing it to life for the rest of us to learn from. I don’t think I’d have liked living with farm animals under the same roof, but at least I can understand why they did.
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I love experimental archaeology. It can give us such a good idea of what life was like.
In this replica there was a very clear division between the living area and the barn of the farm, although no one can say if it was like that in the early middle ages.
The caretaker told me that by comparison this farm was very large. The people who lived in it were probably rich. In farms of poorer people the humans and animals might have lived closer together.
What a neat experience to be able to really step back in time like that and at least get a flavor of another time. I used to work at Renaissance Festivals, and even though it’s not entirely authentic, it was still always neat to learn more and at least attempt to portray another era :-)
You’re right Shannon. It was a great experience. I was so glad I discovered this replica, because so little is left above ground from the early Middle Ages. That makes it very hard to imagine what it was like.
What a neat place to have. We have something similar but it is just for the 1800′s, medieval would have taken some study to get it right.
Thanks for the pictures
Your welcome, Frances.
Marian told me that even though it looks very medieval, they could never be sure if a farm really looked like this in those days. They only ever foudn the bit that is underground, so it was indeed a challence. But I think they did a great job!