What was it like? British & Saxon Great Halls are sometimes called 'aisled halls' because of the way they were built. They had two rows of big wooden columns down the centre to hold up the roof. Either side were 'aisles,' like open corridors. You still get aisles in churches today. The hall was divided into two rooms. The smaller of the two rooms was probably either a bedroom for the lord and his family or a barn-room for animals. The main room took up most of the building. It was the 'feasting hall'. It was a place to eat and to relax. The lord's warriors would gather here, eat and drink, hold wrestling matches, sing songs and exchange jokes. A minstrel might be hired to tell them stories. The lord and his family sat at a long table at one end. His warriors sat at similar tables down each side. The floor might have been covered in rushes or straw. There would be wall hangings for decoration and to keep the room warm; and perhaps flaming torches too. Extra warmth and light came from a fire in the centre. It would have been very smokey in the Great Hall! The cooking was usually done in a separate building nearby.
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