Timber (Lumber) was widely used in medieval times for the construction of buildings, wooden non construction products of many types were also in demand.

Medieval Carpenter

The carpenter therefore was as important in medieval times as the stonemason. In the later parts of the medieval period new methods of working with timber using joints and trusses allowed for larger buildings of many levels to be safely constructed.

7. Cobbler *Shoemaker

Medieval shoes were made by cobblers who also repaired all types of shoes. However, medieval cobblers mainly made and repaired shoes for the common people.

Cobbler Shoemaker

As for the nobility, they had their own shoemaker who was known as a cordwainer. He made luxury shoes with various styles that were exclusive to the nobility. Cobblers made shoes from materials such as burlap, hide, and wood.

Cordwainer

8. Medieval Moneyer

Authorised to make coins from different metals such as copper, gold and silver that could be used to buy goods and services. Moneyers would have been licensed by the Crown and would have been allowed to keep a very small percentage of the money he created in payment for his work.

A Medieval Moneyer mints the coins in medieval times

Read more about Medieval Moneyers

9. Goldsmith

Medieval Goldsmith’s were very important and weathly craftsmen in medieval times, who could even act as a bankers. Goldsmiths were metalworkers who worked with precious metals such as gold to create expensive items such as a ceremonial crowns or sceptres for wealthly medieval people such as Kings and Nobles.

Goldsmiths were members of important and elite Guilds and made products by shaping metal, they were skilled in casting, forging, filing, soldering and polishing to create products of a high standard.

1o. Cooper

Coopers were very skilled craftsmen who made wooden barrels, casks and other similar containers. They were well established in England around the end of the 13th century and in high demand during the whole of the medieval period.

There were four types of Coopers that made Casks, some would make containers for dry goods, others would make casks for the transportation of wet goods and liquids. Breweries employed many Coopers to make caskets to store the popular ales that they produced.

11. Harness and Beltmakers

12. Medieval Locksmith

Locksmiths were in high demand during the medieval period creating many types of lock, the most popular of these was the fetterlock, which was used to secure livestock.

Medieval Locksmith

Medieval homes often had several locks on their doors especially if they were important buildings such as armories and treasuries that stored valuable items.

13. Medieval Stonemason

Stone masonary was a highly skilled occupation, stonemasons might be tasked with building a famous castle, church or cathedral, some stonemasons may be tasked with creating an elaborate design or piece of work such as a medieval gargoyle.

Medieval Stonemason

15. Weavers

Medieval weavers made all kinds of items made from cloth such as clothing from materials such as wool, flax, hemp, and sometimes silk. Weavers were classed as urban craftsmen and had to become a member of a guild which established a standard of quality for the work they produced.

16. Medieval Wheelwright

A medieval wheelwright was in demand to make wheels for carriages and also repaired broken wheels, the name wheelwright means in Old English ‘Shaper of Wood’.

Carts of various types were in demand and carriages were popular modes of transport with wealthly medieval people such as Royals, Nobles and wealthy merchants.

Medieval Hay Wagon

Medieval Craftsmen *Weapons & Armour

As well as craftsmen who made general products that were used by medieval people there was also a grouping of important weapons and armour craftsmen who were specialists in their type of work.

1. Armourer *Armor Smiths
2. Bowyer *bow makers
3. Fletchers *Arrow makers
4. Swordsmith *Sword Smiths

1. Armourer

An armourer was similar to a Blacksmith, indeed medieval Blacksmiths did make armour and weapons, but as the medieval period progressed the advancements of medieval weapons led to the natural progression of specialist ‘smiths’ such as armourers.

Once an armourer had specified the features he would use in the armour, he would begin working on every inch of the armour, using tools such as a very heavy hammer and rudimentary welding equipment.

An armourer would heat metals in a forge and then hammer and twist them into the required shape on an anvil. Great armour manufacturers sprang up in Germany and Italy where sophisticated armour could be produced quickly in large quantitie.

Armourers Anvil

Learn More about Medieval Craftsman – The Armourer

2. Bowyer

A Bowyer was in high demand as a weapons maker during the medieval period as he made the longbows used in the many battles of the hundred years war between England and France during the Plantagenet period. A Bowyer could skillfully shape freshly cut wood splits into bow staves in just a few hours of intense work.

Medieval Bowyer

Learn more about the Medieval Craftsman – The Bowyer

3. Fletcher

A Fletcher either made the whole arrow or added the fletching to the end of the arrow, the fletching also known as the arrow flight is the feathers on the end of the arrow that help its flight through the air.