ASTents

Saxon Tents are difficult to reconstruct as there is no archaeological evidence for them. However, they are well known from literature and illustrations, so although we do not know how they were made we at least know what they looked like at what they were used for.
For example, they appear to have been mainly used for armies on the march, as depicted in the two images below, which are clearly battle scenes as spears, shields and bows can be seen in both. The word camp (meaning 'place where troops etc. are lodged or trained; fortified site; accommodation of tents, huts, etc') is an Old English word which originally meant 'battle' or 'warfare'.


Two images from the Harley Psalter showing warriors grouped around their tents.

They may also have been used by other people when away from home, for example, traders, farmers out slaughtering animals, etc. The clearest image of this alternative use is from a manuscript the season is most likely Autumn, when surplus animals that could not be fed over winter were slaughtered.

An image from MS Cotton Claudius B.I.V.f.29v.

   You can clearly see the ridge pole - that is the pole running across the top of the tent, and what appears to be a fabric covering reaching down to the ground. The covering is most likely to be fabric as it is coloured in stripes.
   In the first two images the tents appear to be very tall. The man on the horse for example, is about half the height of the tent he is riding past. Whereas the tent in the third image would seem to be about the height of a man - the figure leaning into it is bending over, but the tent extends upwards beyond his bent back. No doubt tents would have been made in a variety of sizes as befitted their purpose.
   As well as images of tents we also have several literary references to them. People are referred to as being 'at prayer in their tent', usually in descriptions of military events, and there are also references to 'tabernacles or tents'.
   All these details are very scant - so we have to use common sense and knowledge of the tools and materials available at the time to reconstruct how we think a Saxon tent might have been made.
   The Saxons certainly had linen and hemp fabrics and these could have been used for the tent covering. Some form of fat or grease could have been spread on the fabric to give it a waterproof coating. Ropes were made of hemp (also needed for rigging ships) using a simple hook and board twisting device, and toggles could easily be made from wood; as could the pegs to hold the tent down and the poles to hold the tent up.

Two Saxon Tents - showing one opening at the end and the other opening at the side with the flap forming an awning. It is possible that this form was used as a stall for trading purposes.

   The two tents here have been made in a similar manner. Each has two upright poles held apart by a long ridge pole. The ridge pole goes through a tube of fabric at the top of the tent. The fabric extends down to the ground on each side to form a triangle and sewn to the edge of the triangle is a half circle or 'bell-end' of fabric. In the green tent the centre seam of one of the bell-ends has been left open. In the white tent, one seam on each side has been left open - so that the resulting flap can be opened like an awning. Three extra poles are needed in this case, two more uprights and another ridge-pole bringing the total number of poles to six.
   The green tent is held up by the tension of the fabric between the ridge pole and the tent pegs holding it down.
   The white tent has ropes attached to the ridge pole at each end, two which go behind and cross over and two which go in front and peg out. These ropes and the tension on the fabric when it is pegged out are what helps the tent keep standing. Extra ropes are used on the awning poles to hold these upright, too.

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