History Extra Podcast: How Pigs Caused a Stink in Medieval England

Release Date: January 13, 2025

In the episode titled "How Pigs Caused a Stink in Medieval England," host Ryan Reynolds engages in an enlightening conversation with historian Dolly Jorgensen. Produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine, this episode delves into the integral role pigs played in medieval urban life, exploring their economic importance, the challenges they presented, and the societal responses to managing them.

1. The Ubiquity of Pigs in Medieval Cities

Ryan Reynolds opens the discussion by questioning the prevalence of pigs in medieval English cities:

"Why were pigs such a common sight in our cities in the Middle Ages? Why did so many people own them?" (01:14)

Dolly Jorgensen explains that pigs were uniquely suited for urban environments due to their omnivorous diet and efficient space utilization:

"Pigs are omnivores like humans, and they eat pretty much anything you give them... they can be kept in a pretty small sty and still function." (01:35)

She emphasizes that pigs provided a sustainable solution for waste management, consuming leftovers and brewery dregs that would otherwise go to waste. Additionally, pork products like bacon and lard were essential for medieval diets, offering easy preservation methods through salting and smoking.

2. Economic and Practical Advantages

Jorgensen highlights the multifaceted benefits of pig ownership:

"Pig meat is really easy to preserve... it's also good to make fat from, so lard." (03:15)

She notes that lard was a primary cooking fat before butter became widespread. Pigs' ability to convert waste into valuable resources made them indispensable in urban settings, especially as towns expanded during the mid-1200s to 1300s.

3. Urban Management and Pig Penalties

The conversation shifts to how medieval authorities managed pig populations to prevent urban chaos. Reynolds probes the living conditions of urban pigs:

"So they literally just kept them in styes, essentially in their gardens. Is that how it worked?" (05:07)

Jorgensen confirms that pigs were typically housed in back gardens but were subject to strict regulations to prevent nuisances:

"If you didn't maintain your sty or if your pig was running around... people tended to take other people to court." (05:12)

Court records from the era frequently document disputes arising from pig mismanagement, such as improper waste disposal leading to foul smells and contaminated water sources.

4. Notable Conflicts and Anecdotes

Reynolds references specific incidents illustrating the tensions caused by pigs:

"An unruly sow breaks down the door, knocks over a cradle and eats a blanket." (07:54)

Jorgensen explains that while such events weren't everyday occurrences, they were significant enough to be recorded over centuries. For instance, in Norwich, pigs were notorious for disrupting cemeteries by exhuming bodies, leading to local proclamations aimed at restoring order.

5. Regulatory Measures and Swineherds

To curb the chaos, medieval cities implemented various control measures. Reynolds inquires about the role of swineherds:

"Did they do the thing you referred to earlier, where they were basically employed to go round up pigs and inverted commas, take care of them?" (14:39)

Jorgensen details the responsibilities of swineherds, who were tasked with herding pigs using tools like pigging sticks and leashing techniques:

"They also took them out to graze... they would lead this herd of pigs... to forage in the woods or fields." (12:01)

Additionally, cities employed "swine killers" to handle loose pigs, ensuring that pigs adhering to regulations remained within controlled environments.

6. Pigs and Medieval Superstition

The episode explores the sinister reputation pigs held in medieval society. Reynolds asks about pigs' association with the devil:

"Why is that? And how did their devilish reputation sort of impact their treatment?" (20:43)

Jorgensen cites biblical stories and folklore that portrayed pigs negatively, associating them with demons and impurity. For example, Jesus's miracle of exorcising demons into a herd of swine reinforced the view of pigs as unclean and morally corrupt animals. These perceptions influenced societal attitudes, leading to stricter control and often disdainful treatment of pigs within urban settings.

7. Decline of Urban Pigs

Despite their importance, pigs eventually disappeared from city landscapes. Reynolds probes the timeline of this decline:

"When do pigs begin to disappear from our cities?" (24:06)

Jorgensen attributes their decline to early 20th-century sanitation movements aimed at "cleaning up" cities. The rise of supermarkets reduced the necessity of backyard pigs, and improved waste management systems minimized the need for pigs as waste consumers. World Wars saw temporary resurgences due to meat demands, but post-World War II advancements in food distribution and hygiene standards effectively eradicated pigs from urban environments.

8. Lessons from Medieval Animal Management

In the episode's conclusion, Reynolds asks Jorgensen about contemporary lessons from medieval pig management:

"Is there anything that you believe we can learn from our medieval ancestors when it comes to our relationship with animals like pigs?" (27:29)

Jorgensen reflects on the closer relationship medieval people had with animals, emphasizing a greater understanding and respect for animal life and waste management. She suggests that modern society can benefit from this awareness, fostering a more conscientious approach to how we interact with and depend on animals in our daily lives.

Conclusion

"How Pigs Caused a Stink in Medieval England" offers a comprehensive exploration of the indispensable yet challenging role pigs played in medieval urban settings. Through Dolly Jorgensen's expertise, listeners gain insights into the economic, environmental, and societal dimensions of pig ownership, as well as the regulatory frameworks that sought to balance human needs with animal management. The episode not only sheds light on historical practices but also encourages reflection on modern relationships with animals and sustainability.

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Notable Quotes:

• Dolly Jorgensen (01:35): "Pigs are omnivores like humans, and they eat pretty much anything you give them and they can put on fat with that. And so that makes them actually really ideal for having in an urban setting."

• Dolly Jorgensen (03:15): "Pig meat is really easy to preserve in that it can be readily salted and preserved through brine. It can also be smoked, and it maintains its good quality."

• Dolly Jorgensen (20:43): "Medieval kind of theological commentators say, well, that's because pigs are closer to the devil... pigs are in a way... corrupted."

Produced by Jack Bateman.