Steven Till

6 Responses to “Medieval History Term of the Week: Pannage”

1. Anne Gilbert, on January 2nd, 2010 at 8:51 pm Said:

   Thanks, Steve! I knew “pannage” was a type of pasturage. I’d forgotten that it was the space allowed for pigs to feed on things like nuts, truffles, and acorns, which fattened the pigs. IIRC, the pigs were only allowed this “pannage” in certain areas and only at certain seasons of the year.
   Anne G

2. stevent, on January 3rd, 2010 at 2:42 pm Said:

   You’re welcome Anne. Do you know off-hand what seasons of the year pigs were allowed to feed? I’d have to go look it up again and was thinking you might know.

3. Anne Gilbert, on January 3rd, 2010 at 4:30 pm Said:

   Steve, I’m not sure exactly when the “pannage for pigs” season began. Probably in spring, say around April or so, and people in areas where they kept pigs, and there was appropriate forage for them, would (probably) turn them loose in those areas, to feed and fatten. I believe(and I think I also read this in the Gies book, but possibly elsewhere) that the “pannage season” generally ended in October.
   Anne G

4. stevent, on January 6th, 2010 at 12:25 pm Said:

   Thanks, Anne. I need to go back to my Gies’ books and look for that info. I remember reading it at some point over the last few years but had forgotten which book(s) it was in.

5. Anne Gilbert, on January 7th, 2010 at 2:08 am Said:

   Steve:

   I was kind of going by memory here. I’ll have to reread trhe Gies book, which was called, I think, Life in a Medieval Village
   Anne G

6. stevent, on January 8th, 2010 at 4:45 pm Said:

   I have a few of their books: Life in a Medieval Village, Life in a Medieval Castle, and Life in a Medieval City. They’re all pretty good.

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