Manorial craftsmen


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Part of a series on Manorialism
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Demesne · Household · Bailiff · Herald
Production
Slave · Serf · Yeoman · Craftsmen
Monopolies
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Manorial craftsmen are an essential part of making a manor a self-sufficient economic enterprise. They make the tools and perform the repairs that allow the manor to function by itself. This does not mean that the manor does not employ outside labor and skill for major projects, but a manor without such projects can go on quite well by its own efforts.
Most manorial craftsmen are of the social class of a yeoman on the manor, and a craftsman in the town. Craftsmen who are serfs are uncommon, but not unheard of. Craftsmen who are serfs typically are not paid for the manorial lord's work, but are paid for all other work. Freemen pay a rent for the license to work on the manor. Free manorial craftsmen join a guild, in part for the reasons every other craftsmen does, for recognition by one's peers, for exclusive rights to a certain market. However, the manorial lord is the craftsman's primary customer, and his other customers are his men by oath. So the loyalty of the craftsman is almost entirely his lord's, and often selects the guild he joins with the approval of his lord.
  • Carpenter: The carpenter makes plows and harrow out of his own timber and assists the tenants in making their carts. Some tools, such as mallets and stakes he makes alone, other tools and some weapons he makes some parts and the smith other parts. The grain mill is largely a wood machine and frequently in need of repair. Some carpenters are also skilled at putting up simple buildings.
  • Blacksmith: In addition to helping the carpenter in making plows and binding wooden barrels with iron hoops, the blacksmith makes hinges, blocks, and other components for tools and objects assembled by the carpenter. He makes simple weapons, such as axe heads and spear points if required. He can repair armor, and assist and armorer, but cannot craft armor. He shoes lord?s horses and is also required to sharpen the scythes of the mowers who harvest the hay.
  • Weaponsmith: An uncommon craftsmen, but by no means rare, a weaponsmith is a specialist in crafting swords, achieving a fine edge on all weapons, and is required for any masterwork weapons. They are generally employed on a manor near hostilities or where troops commonly assemble.
  • Armorer: A rare craftsman, for only knights and heavy infantry wear metal armor. Armorers are typically found on one of the principle manors of higher nobility. There, they accept commissions from the vassals and retainers of their lord.
  • Tanner: A common craftsman the tanner takes the skin of animals and makes them into leather for clothes and tools. In smaller manors the tanner will also preserve furs as a furrier. Leather clothes range from soft ladies clothes, to tough smith aprons, and in Manors near combat zones may make tough hard leather armor for those commoners who can afford it.
  • Miller: Every manor has a grain mill. The mill converts the grain harvested into flour. The mill is also a manorial monopoly which gives the lord much income in coin as well as a portion of the grain converted into flour. The miller runs one of the most profitable industries on the manor and typically pays handsomely for the privilege. Most manors are large enough for there to be more than one mill. Typically there is one for every hundred and fifty acres of arable land. The miller is responsible for the millpond, and makes an additional income from the sale of fishing rights, collecting reeds and flax, and the rental of boats.
  • Baker: The baker manages the communal oven, another manorial monopoly. There are generally as many ovens as there are mills.
  • Mason: A mason is not a common craftsman on a manor, unless the lord has the necessity or good fortune to be building in stone. Some large manors have occasion to be always building because of the age and great number of stone buildings. A mason's employ on a manor is a prestigious thing for a lord.

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