July

 

Shearing of sheep and some harvesting of grains continues. The Palace of Poitiers is seen in the background.

Sheep were grown for wool which was export in the 13th century.  Later the English became known for finished cloth.  Flax and hemp were also grown and used in the production of cloth.  Several members of our family were drapers that is to say they were engaged in the cloth trade and would have been members of the Drapers Guild. 

The spinning of wool, flax or hemp was a job done by women.  It was done by using simple tools called a distaff and spindle.  This is where genealogists derive the term of distaff referring to the female side of a family.  Male branches were once referred to as spear or sword for fairly obvious reasons.  Agnate is the more modern term designating those who descend from a common male ancestor.

Weaving cloth on looms would have been done by either men or women during the winter months.