Jessie Taylor
Candles in medieval times were typically lit using tapers, which were lit from a cooking fire or a bed of coals. Some other methods of lighting candles included using flint and steel, or rubbing sticks together to create a spark. Sulfur-tipped matches were also used, but self-igniting matches were not invented until the 1800s. The type of candle used depended on social class: tallow candles, made from animal fat, were widely used by the lower classes, while beeswax candles were used by the wealthy and the clergy due to their brightness and lack of odour or smoke.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Materials used to light candles | Flint, steel, flammable material, potassium nitrate, sulfur-tipped matches, hemp rope, fire embers |
| Candle types | Rush lights, tallow candles, beeswax candles |
| Candle composition | Animal fat, whale fat, beeswax, boiled suet from cows, sheep or goats |
| Wick composition | Natural reed, dried rushes, wool strands, cotton, silk |
| Fire sources | Cooking fire, fireplace, special containers with embers |
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What You'll Learn
Tinder boxes with sulfur-tipped matches
A tinderbox, or patch box, is a container made of wood or metal containing flint, firesteel, and tinder (typically charcloth, but possibly a small quantity of dry, finely divided fibrous matter such as hemp), used together to help kindle a fire. A tinderbox may also contain sulfur-tipped matches.
To operate a tinderbox, the flint is struck in a vigorous downward motion against the steel, sending a shower of sparks into the tinder, which is arranged at the bottom of the box. The sparks create small embers as they fall onto the charcloth, and with some gentle blowing, the tinder can be made to glow sufficiently to ignite a sulfur-tipped wooden splint. The splint can then be carried to a candle, often set in a holder on top of the box. Finally, the cloth is extinguished with a damper to preserve it for further use.
The tinder pistol, based on the flintlock mechanism, was a more expensive alternative to the tinderbox and was in use in middle- and upper-class homes in the 18th century. In the early 19th century, a more efficient tinderbox was invented with a rotating metal wheel to create the sparks. There were also other more experimental devices available, such as the fire piston and the instantaneous light box.
The use of tinderboxes began to decline in the 19th century with the invention of friction matches. By 1850, tinderboxes had largely vanished, replaced by the new matches, tipped with chemicals, which were more liberating.
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Flint and steel
Once the tinder was lit, it could be used to light a candle by touching the flame to the wick. However, candles were considered expensive, so they were not typically used as the primary source of fire. Instead, people would keep a fire burning continuously, even overnight, by banking the coals and adding tinder in the morning to rekindle the flames. This provided a convenient and readily available source of fire for lighting candles or for other purposes.
The use of flint and steel for fire-starting was not limited to candles alone. It was also employed for lighting pipes and tobacco, although direct lighting of tobacco with flint and steel was less common. Instead, a piece of charcloth placed on top of the tobacco would be ignited using the sparks from the flint and steel. This method ensured that the tobacco burned slowly and evenly.
In addition to flint and steel, other methods for lighting candles in medieval times included the use of slow-burning fuses or treated hemp ropes, which could be kept lit for extended periods. These early versions of matches provided a convenient way to light candles or start fires without the need for a separate flame source. However, self-igniting matches were not widely available until the 1800s, so flint and steel remained a trusted and reliable method for fire and candle lighting during the medieval period.
While flint and steel was a widely used technique, it was not the only method available. Some people also used fire steels to light the contents of tinderboxes, transferring the flame to a candle through a wooden splint. Additionally, in China, "fire sticks" made of pinewood splinters impregnated with sulfur were used, as they readily caught fire with a mere spark. These alternative methods showcase the creativity and adaptability of people during the medieval era in their pursuit of light and warmth.
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Torches
The construction of torches varied depending on the region and available materials. For instance, in the United States, black bear bones may have been used as the combustible material. The Ancient Romans invented a unique type of torch by dipping a rag-wrapped wooden rod in a mixture of sulfur and lime, which could even burn underwater. This type of torch was often placed in sconces to provide fixed lighting in crypts and castles.
Additionally, torches were used as a symbol of mourning when depicted in a downward-pointing position on Greek and Roman funerary monuments. The upward-pointing torch, on the other hand, symbolized truth and the regenerative power of flame.
Today, torches are still used in modern processions, such as the Olympic Torch Relay, which was introduced in the 1936 Summer Olympics to connect the ancient games with the modern ones.
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Fireplaces or embers
Fireplaces were a common feature of medieval lighting. These were often large, central fireplaces that provided heat and light. In the Tudor period, for example, the upper classes had large houses with many rooms that required fireplaces to keep them warm. In contrast, the homes of the poor were simple thatched huts with one or two rooms.
The fire in these fireplaces was kept burning at all times as it was difficult to light from scratch, even with a flint and striker. At night, the fire would be banked to keep the coals hot, so that in the morning, tinder could be placed on the coals and lit by blowing gently. Kindling and wood could then be added to create a larger fire.
Candles were often lit using a taper that had been lit in the fire. They were used with care, and the wax that dripped was collected for reuse.
In addition to fireplaces, medieval lighting included candles, rush lights, flaming torches, and lanterns. Torches were made from wood bound in rags and impregnated with fat, and set into metal brackets. Medieval lanterns were candles in a metal frame, and oil lamps were also used, with clay or metal lamps suitable for longer burning times.
The light from these sources was often dim by modern standards, and the spiritual significance of light and dark in medieval thought meant that lighting was a complex system that combined practical, social, and spiritual aspects.
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Beeswax candles
Beeswax was a byproduct of honey collection, and it was collected after honey had been extracted and purified by boiling it in seawater. The process of making beeswax candles involved dipping or drawing the wick in molten wax or tallow, shaping it by hand by rolling soft wax around a wick, or pouring wax or tallow over the wick to build up the candle. In the 14th century, Sieur de Brez introduced the technique of using a mould, but real improvement for the efficient production of candles with moulds was only achieved in the 19th century.
In medieval times, candle-making was a skilled trade managed by powerful guilds, which ensured high-quality production for various purposes, including lighting and religious ceremonies. Innovations such as the use of moulds and wicks made from cotton or hemp improved candle performance and consistency over time.
The use of beeswax for candles dates back to ancient times, with references to beeswax candles in ancient Chinese texts from the Han dynasty (202 BC – 220 AD) and the Book of Jin (compiled in 648 AD). In Europe, beeswax candles became more common during the Middle Ages, with mentions of tallow candles in English appearing in 1154.
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Frequently asked questions
People in the medieval times used tapers to light candles. They would keep a cooking fire going at all times or have a good bed of coals to light the taper.
Candles in medieval times were usually of two types: "Rush" lights and "Tallow" candles. Rush lights were made from natural reeds or "rushes" that grew in abundance in Great Britain. These were dried out, stripped of their skin, and the inner pith was soaked in animal fat to create a basic wick. Tallow candles were made from boiling down animal fat into a hardened, creamy white substance that was used to coat the wick.
No, fire was also used as a source of light. People would keep a fire going at all times or have a good bed of coals to light tapers and candles.
