Maenor facts for kids

The maenor (pronounced MY-nor) was a special way that villages were grouped together in medieval Wales. Think of it as a collection of communities that worked together. In North Wales, a similar idea was called a maenol. This system was very important for how people lived and how land was managed a long, long time ago.

What Was a Maenor?

A maenor was more than just a group of villages. It was a system of land and communities that existed in Wales during the Middle Ages. It's often confused with the English "manor," but the maenor is much older. It also has a different history. The word maenor comes from the Welsh word maen, which means "stone." This might have meant the stone homes of important local leaders. Or, it could have described an area that shared a single mill for grinding grain.

Different Kinds of Maenorau

Not all maenorau were the same. There were two main types, depending on who lived there:

• The maenor wrthdir was for nobles and free people. These were people who owned their land and were not tied to it.
• The maenor vro was for serfs. Serfs were people who worked the land. They were not slaves, but they were not completely free either. They usually had to stay on the land they worked.

How Big Were They?

According to the old Laws of Hywel Dda, which were Welsh laws from long ago:

• A maenor wrthdir (for free people) had thirteen "free towns" (called trev ryd). Each of these towns was quite large, about 1,248 Welsh acres. A Welsh acre was a bit different from an acre today.
• A maenor vro (for serfs) had seven "serftowns" (called taeogtrev). Each of these was about 936 Welsh acres.

Life in a Maenor Town

By the later part of the Middle Ages, each town within a maenor was expected to have certain things. This shows how self-sufficient these communities were. Each town would have:

• A smith to make tools and weapons.
• A plow for farming the fields.
• A kiln for baking or making pottery.
• A churn for making butter.
• Important animals like a cat (to catch mice!), a cock (rooster), and a bull.
• A shepherd to look after the sheep.

These items and people were essential for daily life and work in the community.

Paying the King

The free towns in a maenor had a special duty. Each year, they had to give one pound of silver to the king. Or, they could give something else of equal value. This payment helped cover the king's expenses. It was a way for the communities to support their ruler.

See also

• Taeog
• Manor