In medieval times, many unique jobs, such as Ale-wife and
Groom of the Stool, were essential but have since vanished. Discover
these obsolete occupations and how historical changes led to their
disappearance.
Christopher Corèdon writes about various jobs in his book A Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases. Some, like Chamberlain or Blacksmith, are well-known to history fans, but others disappeared after the Middle Ages.
In the Village
A woman and a hermit with ale – British Library MS Royal 10 E. IV, f.114v
Ale was a widely consumed beverage in medieval England. One drawback,
however, was that it spoiled quickly, so it had to be consumed within a
few days. This led to a loose system in many English villages where
people, usually women, made ale and sold it. This occupation was called Ale-wife, and local records suggest that nearly every adult female in a village participated.
By the end of the Middle Ages, the brewing process became more
commercialized, reducing women’s ability to participate. Another job
lost because of this change was Ale-conner, whose job was to inspect the ale....
Luparius: In the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, the
Kings of England offered bounties for every wolf killed. This led many
men to become wolf-catchers, using packs of dogs to track down wolves.
They were so successful that wolves became extinct in England by the end
of the fifteenth century, ending the profession....
[Nota bene: sometimes it's not so much technology but rather, incentives]
....In the Royal Court As medieval kings became wealthier and more powerful, their entourages grew significantly....
...Perhaps the most distasteful job when working for a king was the Groom of the Stool.
He had to empty the royal chamber pot after each use. Having such an
intimate responsibility meant that he would likely be close to the king
most of the day, so he had to be someone the monarch knew and trusted.
Fortunately, with the invention of indoor plumbing, this job became
redundant....
...Parchmenter: Specialized in buying and selling parchment, they saw their business plummet with the growth of paper....
