The Revolting Life Of A Medieval Cesspit Farmer | History Of Britain | Absolute History
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 มิ.ย. 2024
- Tony takes us back to the Middle Ages, a time of knights in shining armour, big-shot kings, and fabulous clothes - if you could afford them. His first encounter is with someone you wouldn’t want to meet on a dark night, or any time, really. Richard Rakiere has the vital role of a ‘Gong Farmer’, or Nightman, and spends his hours of darkness emptying cesspits. We know about Richard because in 1326, his bizarre death was recorded, when he fell into his own cesspit and drowned.
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This is like “The worst jobs in history” with tony robinson which was some of my favourite documentaries. Really enjoying this after a long day of work with the next day off. Entertaining and reminds me how good I actually got it. The fact I work 8 hours in a sterile environment with breaks and can afford things like an Xbox/games, an iPad, etc. I’m really grateful. I don’t make a lot of money and wish I made more but watching videos on how hard conditions were a couple hundred years ago is eye opening.
Yes we need to be grateful
Growing up, some of our family still had outhouses. However, we used lime and sawdust to cover the leavings, and once the pit was full, another was dug and the outhouse moved. Then dirt was piled over the old pit, and a fruit tree, rose bush, etc., was planted over it.
thats a nice thing to do
Ours was attached to our barn, and the area was an open pile backed by boards that held it in. Every so many years it had to be shoveled out and removed.
Gosh. The pee must be bad for the roots.
@@annagitana1 Not at all, especially if it's a fruit tree. Fruit is already highly acidic, which feeds into the seeds for a tree.
Exactly
I'm 50 years old. Just heard of "Gong Farming" today. Never too late to learn.
Thought drowning in water is an awful way to go... Can always be so much worse
Every year someone dies in a fertilizer pond. Usually found at cattle farms for dairy cows. Just recently 2 brothers and their father died in one.
@@bradleysmith9431 that sounds completely horrifying. It’s straight out of a horror movie or a bad nightmare. I pray that nobody has to go through that nasty ending…
As an American, I love anything on this channel that involves Tony. He's so engaging and makes learning history fun and interesting, even the most tragic things of the past.
Maybe the dog was already dead and they threw it in the cesspit to get rid of it. Still a pretty undignified burial but not as awful as the other explanation
I wonder if this is where the phrase 'I'm so poor I dont have a pot to piss in or a window to throw it out"
Poor people used to sell their urine to the tanners. The (leather) tanners used the urine to tan the hides. Some people were so poor they couldn’t afford a pot to collect the family’s urine. That takes care of the first part of the saying. (Which you probably already knew.) I’ll bet you’re correct about the second part of the saying.
Yes it actually is. "Chamberpots" are the origin of that saying!
I love this. We always learn about the royals but the story of normal people of those ages, are just forgotten.
And they got the most famous dog's body to do it. I wish he had a cunning plan...
Has history teaching become so bad? Literally I know it's suffered in the US.
No. No with me. I remember! I'm actually reincarnated from a gong farmer. Said no one, ever.
@@genericfighter So cunning, you could put four legs on it and call it a weasel...
Black people built Britain, but this history is hidden.
I come from a long line of gong farmers, when asked why we do it, our motto has always been “its our duty” 👍
Right on!!
As to the nuns in the medieval monasteries - there was no equal treatment in the convent just as there wasn't outside of it. The nuns who came from poor and ordinary families were work mules performing hard and dirty labor for the ones that were born in aristocratic and rich families. The latter did the lightweight and "white collar" jobs in the monasteries and ordered the former around. Also the reasons for a girl to end up as a nun was either unwillingness to get married (or inability to find a candidate for a husband that would be acceptable to the man in power in their family) or being forced into it by male relatives, often brothers or cousins, who wanted to put their hands on their inheritance and rid them of any political or other influence in the lay society. A girl with no power nor money to back her up would never be promoted to an abbesse, no matter what personal qualities, talents and qualifications she would possess. And not just that - she would be sat at the end of the table, get worse food, worse quarters etc. etc.
Same as in military where you would have i.e. 20 year old generals etc. entering the army with a high rank because they went to an expensive private academy, or not even that but had their daddies buy their rank for them, or just been born a prince, duke or with any other noble title and been given their rank for that only, commanding +40 year old veterans who could command the troops with one finger but having had a glass ceiling built above their heads preventing them from reaching anything higher than the second or third lowest rank because they were commoners.
All that I think contributed to the IDEAL (not the reality) of the creation of the US. The idea being in theory you could be born a nobody (I believe Alexander Hamilton was born out of wedlock) and get to be a big cheese. Not that it was perfect since you had to be a white male land owner to vote but it was a START. The old world gave virtually no hope of upward mobility. I see the whole point of societal evolution is to make things more and more fair as we go along. We aren't THERE yet but we've made strides forward.
The UK is still that way. Not here, where we have chosen not to have aristocracy.
I wonder what were the good ol days everybody crying for? Probably rich people.
@@goodasgoing "Good ol' days" are elderly folks remembering their youthfull selves... Regardless of the century & hardships; being young & strong with most of your life ahead is always a time of nostalgia for those who have already lived most of life & can only anticipate their own decline in the near future.
@@jacquelinecallejas1390 Ah, another one falling for the masonic trojan horse of socialism without even realizing what it truly entails.
I like this guy. He is a great story teller. I had no idea someone could tell stories about poop and make it so darn interesting!!!
This is how the History channel used to be... good writing and presenting could make the history of busses interesting.
It’s his enthusiasm. He’s very spritely. He really is a precious old man, I gotta say.
you should watch black adder, he probably did tell some stories about poop in that show
There is no equivalent to Tony in the USA. He is a national treasure in Britain. Watch some Time Team the older ones have a hippy Tony long hair and all.
@@juliejanesmith57 before they went off the rails with alien encounters and Bigfoot? Yea
1972, in Utah, the ranch we bought had indoor plumbing, but since water was trucked in, they still had an outhouse, complete with black widow spiders, in use. The indoor toilet ran to an open cesspit, which had boards across it. The kids ran across that, because, apparently we were stupid and it was supposed to prove how daring you were. Mom, being an RN, made that the very first thing that got changed and a septic tank was put in.
For myself, 'The Gong Show' has a whole new meaning now! Thank you, Tony Robinson! But man do I love world history!
The sisters that helped Joan escape the convent is squad goals
This guy, Tony, is a hell of a good story telling guy! He tells the story in a very good way!
Had to call off of work today from back pain, but at least I’m not a gong farmer and I can be proud of becoming a spinster 😂🤦🏾♀️👍🏾
Denying your programming is nothing to be proud of.
7x more than the average weekly rate though... Like the narrator said, it's tempting.
Basically your job was to shovel poo and see how long you could live before cholera or typhus killed you. Worst game ever.
stil happens to day in meat packing houses and wast water treatment plants ect.
Pish. "SimNightman" will be Bethesda's greatest accomplishment!
Who mucks out stables? Did the Romans wash their clothes in urine? I bet you a whole polo pony the dalits were knight men of the throne
I mean, I'd play that if it were a video game. Just look at the popularity of oregon/organ trail :P
Jester: Sire the peasants are revolting...
King : you are just now finding that out?
You said it, they stink on ice.
S'good t'be da king!
Count de Monet: Sire, the peasants are revolting!
King: You said it, they stink on ice!
Looks like the one at the outdoor movies.Ah,brings back memories.Anyone for popcorn?
Job Security....what a dump!!
Love Sir Tony Robinson!! He makes everything entertaining, even poop!
I really like how he can paint a picture. He makes the story's come alive in my head, so much so, that if I fall asleep watching his videos, I have real lucid dreams about it
I wish that these episodes were a lot longer, because I LOVE learning how people had lived way back then, and all the way through the current century.
We all need to thank all those that invented the things that we all take for granted.
In 1993, in northern Wales we toured the ruins of Flint castle. It was awesome and looked over the estuary. The toilet was 3 stories tall and using the same shoot. Good communication would have been needed so soldiers do not poop on eachother. I am surprised cities did not build urban gardens for citizens to poop in compost bins generating new soil, food for the worms without contaminating the ground water.
Human waste takes years to compost properly so it’s not full of diseases. Even with that most do not use it for food fertilizer since the risks might still be there.
@@RJFPme Best practices, in my opinion, is having layers of garden soil between the layers of "nutrients" in a 4x4 bin composters. Once full and leave it for a year, or even two years if you like, shovel the enriched soil around fruit trees. Works pretty well.
To keep it clear of contaminating ground water, build a raised bed and then build the compost bins on top. Start each bin with 1/4 full of leaves, weeds, grass, chips, kitchen scraps before starting with humanure production. Always add a layer of garden soil after nutrients. Layers are good. It adds the good bacteria in soil to break down the disease bacteria. Cuts the smell immediately too...not to mention looks better.
I really enjoyed this historical presentation on poop!
This guy needs to be knighted for his tremendous work in history as David Attenborough was from his work.
I believe he is Sir Tony
There is a Time Team special episode where he is.
Hello from France! I agree! plus he is fun!
He’s the new David Attenborough
The Queen only knights paedophiles
all the monty-python-esque tidbits make this my favorite episode by far. always nice to be reminded that tony is in fact a "funny man"
I love these programs, watching from the USA
I must say, TH-cam is a wonderland of videos on dealing with poop through the ages. This one is brilliant.
I've always wondered what the derivation of night soil was...Think I saw the term 20-30 years ago in a Stephen king book.
Now my soul can finally be at rest. 😐
I've known what night soil was all my life - where have you been?
@@donaldcarey114 Yes, everyone knows WHAT it is. I'm speaking of the derivation of the word. 😂
Yeah - me too. I first encountered the term in a Yukio Mishima novel, and knew what it meant, but why - soil?...
@@lindakarner1430 It looks like dirt? Remember the term "soiled his pants"? Just a guess. But then there's the term Honey Bucket...
@@snickle1980 You didn't didn't know the derivation, I DID. But then, I read on a clllege level in 6th grade.
When my fil was a young man, he was a honey dipper -- he cleaned outhouses. He said he could take two baths and still not be able to get rid of the smell on him. I'm glad he was done with that by the time I met my husband!
Fil ?
@@guymorris6596 father-in-law. I forgot the dashes.
Good ol' Baldrick is a master storyteller in all his documentaries.
I loved him as Baldrick and love him hosting this show!
I'm saving this video to pick me up when I'm feeling down....😄😄
I just love Tony Robinson's story telling even on Team Time.. ty Tony
Wow. Humans really haven’t changed at all!
- Well, what we’re talking about in, erm, privy terms is the very latest in front-wall, fresh-air orifices, combined with a wide-capacity gutter installation below.
- You mean you crap out of the window.
- Yes!
- That's just what I do!
Gotta love _Blackadder_ ...
😂😂🤣❤
Are you a Realtor? 🤔 😂
Came the saying::”It may be poo to you ,but,it’s bread and butter to me”.
My husband works at a factory that makes paper and sells the leftover byproducts to other factories for things like makeup and stuff.
It smells so bad that, if you're from around here, we have a couple sayings... First, if we go outside and we can smell the factory - despite being 20+ miles away, we know it's going to rain.
It's also the best paying job around here BY FAR! Well, blue collar job anyway. Doctors, attorneys, even some realtors might make more, but the point is, they pay very well.
Almost everyone wants to get hired on there. So whenever anyone compoains about the smell, someone always replies, "Smells like money to me!"
It's awful though! 😂 It smells like a septic tank after boiled egg night... 🤢🤮
And I have vomited just driving past it before. Many people do.
My Husband said he doesn't actually smell it INside the factory though. 🤷🏼♀️ But he sure smells like it when he gets home. And I can smell it here at home when its about to rain. 😂😊
This makes me think that my cousin's last name Nachtman 'Night man' might've had a different job than a night watchman...
People pooped in a hole that was over "the hole" that other people pooped in... That's amazing
Sounds like a typical outhouse
A two story outhouse?
@@machintelligence 🤣😉 yeah look at the outhouse at the grand canyon bright angel trail. Pretty scary.
I mean... you just described any outhouse, privy, or modern day toilet...
Tony, the producers of this episode could not have chosen a better presenter for the "Loo" segment. An inspired choice! Well done.
I didn't realize this was Baldrick! Going to binge. Absolutely delightful!
I'm here, about to finish breakfast, sitting down to watch a show about some sort of farmer, but it seems I fate has an ulterior plan. At least I get to enjoy Baldrick's antics
I love the comedy with the info. Drives home the lessons. This particular edition made me grateful for indoor plumbing
Wow. Tony Robinson, I haven't seen him since the old Blackadder days. I'm happy to see him doing well, he definitely found the right spot as the series narrator.
Poor Richard's Cesspool -- The Almanac for the gong farmer
I'm about one minute in and I'm already hooked.
Subscribing.
Wow! I am surprised no one came up with a better idea back then.
Short Sharp Shower of Shat indeed.
A Beautiful Will that was, Giving to So many Sick and poorly.
I'm Very impressed by that !❤❤❤RIP kind Man 🎈⚘❤
GET IT JOAN!
the production of this is fabulous right down to the music!
Tony Robinson is a wonderful host & presenter.
I’m just so tickled that you called it ‘poo’ the entire time.
I love this guy!!! And the jester sounds like your early version of a comedian lol
This is so good! Very entertaining Thank You The art, the buildings in the background, all eyecandy. Upbeat well edited and moves along enrapt.
So that's what the song "Bang a Gong" was about.
Absolutely brilliant!
this guy just keeps getting better over time
Great show, very colorful descriptions.
Excellent Sereis - Thank you! Very Informative. Peace & Health
I love the animations and story about spinner!
Omg I wouldn't survive if I had to use a community "toilet" w the whole village. I would be too embarrassed. Imagine you're in there going ... not pee and the guy you've been talking to or that you like starts knocking
In many communal toilets there would be no knocking as they were multi seaters. Usually 3 holes on 1 bench and your crush might just have to set beside you.
🤣🤣🤣
You wouldn't have had a choice and it would have been normal to you because it would be what you were taught, and accepted in society 😉
You Brit’s I love your expressions! The various names describing poo, “ affluent” or effluent? “ “mid-evil poo never looses its shine” and so much more….💋
Thank you so much for uploading this video. It is helping me get through the pandemic!
So far, it actually looks like a great gig!
7 times the daily pay of your neighbor sounds great!
(but i'm only 7 minutes into the video)
😐10:02 Nevermind.
Rofl. Ya. Only with full 21st century plastic PPE, disinfectants and closed circuit breathing.
There was a lesson there to not put off repairs! That was procrastination the had deadly consequences!
(I wish I had known that story to relay to my husband who thought repairs would do themselves.)
That poor dog
If it’s not Tony Robinson then I don’t WANT IT!
19:35 THE OG TELETUBBIE
I enjoyed this a lot. I could imagine being in that age. This guy uses the right amount of humor and with the look of Gargamel (Smurfs) it's quite entertaining. Worth a history class in school - and the duration also fits.
The gong farmer finished at the crack of Dawn. Boom, boom, tish!
I'm glad to see Baldrick is still keeping busy
Benny Hill, are you listening from the great beyond?!
The job of "hole man" still exists today. I know because as a teenager it was my job. I literally got paid by the bucket load and made good money doing it. You see, even modern sewer systems have a chamber that captures "grit" that needs cleaned out by hand from time to time.
Wow, oh my, oh my. I never thought Mr. Magoo existed in real life. So the SCREEN is his true vocation
incredibly high quality content
Iv never thought about this but a knight's worst enemy could be a rain storm, keep the oil can handy
One of the squires main duties was to sand the knights armor , as well as caring for all the other stuff
Modern gong farmers are those people that clean out septic tanks and porto-potties, same job, different year, just as smelly as always.
This was jolly interesting
It's Baldrick from Black Adder!!
I love the narration/ commentary 😂
The "throne" on 2nd floor that hung out over the street just needed side windows so you can aim!
excellent
Ohhhh how I loved visiting York.
Baldrik talking about medieval poop is so very on topic!
2:52 notice how the inverted piece of tree is used at the corner of the building, along with the vertical post behind it. That’s the strongest bit of any tree!
dad kept 1 going till 10 yrs ago...hell we had lights and heat later on
A convent seems like a potentially appealing alternative to an arranged marriage, tedious chores, no rights, dangers of childbirth, and infant mortality.
Spending your life in a virtual prison; denied even the modest pleasures of having your hair dressed, wearing nice clothes, going dancing, or playing with your own child; eating bland food; waking in the wee hours every night to recite prayers; and sleeping on the floor.
@@kevinbyrne4538 sounds like my marriage, but I did have a bed.
You know you can't judge the past by modern-day standards what you would be unhappy with now may have been good at some other time
@@LordEvan5 thanks for helping to make my point.
@@kevinbyrne4538 bold of you to assume that she had hair to dress - nuns often had shorn heads in the early Benedictine orders. Because keeping long hair was considered not only expensive, but vain.
You crack me up!
22:50 - About 'breaking wind', Tony says: "It was part of life. Perhaps thanks to all those turnips."
I see what you did there, Baldrick :-) :-)
Flactulist .. I nearly choked in my drink XD WHAHAHAHA I belong in that era,trust me ! I like to fart and I like to hear farts XD It cracks me up !
The king’s Royal Farters
Gross
That reminds me of a joke I first heard back during the Persian Gulf War: What is the difference between a U.S. pilot and an Iraqi pilot?
It's all in the takeoff; a U.S. pilot breaks ground and flies into the wind.
You can guess what an Iraqi pilot does..........
I will always come back for Tony vids, as an American, I wish we had someone like Tony on the history channel growing up (when it used to be about history lol)
Today we have our rural septic systems or holding tanks pumped. Used on fields I guess. One company is called "Fragrant", with a skunk and another one says. " I take everyone 's s**t. The whole neighborhood smells while they are pumping it.
We normies are the backbone of societies.
Say what?
This was very entertaining and educational. If he’s doing yours I definitely go :)
I was expecting a child, not a dog😅
I remmember as a childe used it in the mountains villages of NorthEast Turkey,in some parts its still used.
All it whent to the fields behinde the farmers Houses. Man it was An adventure as a littleboy dropping down below seeing Fall down four meter down in to the field.
I love how Tony throws the poo around
Kickin' the gong around, then?
Nothing I'd ever want to do.
Carry on, Tony.
I like this guy but he tells the story of Joan of Leeds as a man would. He says, what amazes me is that so many nuns stayed in the convent, which "maybe" shows that there weren't many options available. Let's think about that for a moment.
Production is in Point :D very funny
This was so entertaining, and reassuring that were still the same awful people after all these hundreds of years.
43:06 Fashions have change but the way people treat each other hasn't
8:23 *smiling hard* that's the saddest part of the story