Mr and Mrs Digby’s Bedroom

This is a private bedchamber, which in the early 1600s would have been a relatively new and luxurious concept.

The replica 17^th century bed does not have a canopy and heavy drapes like the bed in the corridor bedroom as it sits in a private and relatively draught free bedroom. The bed is made up of several layers to create a comfortable place to sleep, including a rush bedmat, a straw mattress, feather and down mattresses.

Mr Digby would have had a manservant and Mrs Digby a lady’s maid to care for their clothes and to help them wash and dress. These servants would have had access to this private chamber.

The present fire escape was an opening to a garde-robe (a medieval en- suite), but in the 1620s the door would be sealed up and chamber pots would have been used.

The chest at the foot of the bed would have contained spare bed linen, while the second chest would have contained clothes.

The small holes in the wall are called ‘put log holes’ and are from beams which supported the scaffolding during the building of the house. These would have been filled in afterwards and would not have been visible in the 17^th century.

View of Private Bedroom

View of Private Bedroom

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