Medieval Castle Toilets: Chamber Pots and Garderobes

Sanitation in Medieval Castles

Toilets were rudimentary, lacking modern plumbing:

1. Chamber Pots

Portable containers (ceramic, metal, wood) kept in bedchambers. Emptied into cesspits or moats.

2. Garderobes

Vertical chutes built into thick walls, often in towers. Waste fell to a cesspit or moat below.

3. Seating

Wooden seats over the chute—simple planks or more elaborate with backs/armrests.

4. Privacy Screens

Wooden partitions sometimes enclosed the chute area.

5. Water

No running water; buckets or jugs used to flush waste.

Sanitation was a constant challenge; odors were pervasive.