Health & Hygiene in Tudor Times

Did you know the Tudor’s bathed only twice a year?
Pupils will discover why the Tudors were some of the smelliest people in history and why their streets and homes were such unpleasant places to visit.

This interactive session enables children to experience the sights and smells of Tudor England with the opportunity to create Tudor perfume or discover the ingredients used in Tudor soap.


A highlight of the session is the visit to the oldest toilet in Sheffield, the Tudor garderobe.

Pupils will uncover the mystery of the weird and wacky remedies Tudors believed would cure disease and illness and discover why going to a Tudor doctor was such an unnerving experience. They will also have a chance to investigate the herbs and spices growing in our apothecaries' garden within the ruins.

Finally round off the session by creating a sweet smelling pomander to disguise the horrible smells created by
everyday Tudor life.

Curriculum Links

This session is aimed at Key Stage 2 pupils and can be adapted to a full or a half day programme. It  supports the History programme of study and Unit 8 of QCA  Scheme of Work: What were the differences between the lives of rich and poor people in Tudor times?

History 2:

Knowledge and Understanding of events, people and changes in the past.

Pupils will understand the differences between modern methods of hygiene and those used in Tudor times, investigating the attitudes and beliefs of Tudor society with regards to medicine and health in general.

Session Outline

The session will be based on the following activities:

  • While exploring the Manor Lodge site pupils will gain an
  • understanding of the hygiene issues present within the Tudor period and will use the information gained to complete a worksheet based on Tudor hygiene
  • Making Tudor Perfume OR Making a Tudor Wash Ball
  • Investigation of Tudor Cures: Through the use of clues and props pupils will try to guess the strange cures used to treat diseases during the Tudor period
  • Making of Pomander
  • Follow up work for this session is provided

The lesson plan used for this session is available on request
NB Activities are subject to change.