#98 "Les Tres Riches Heures Du Duc De Berry, Roof Thatching, The Scold's Bridle"

Les Tres Riches Heures Du Duc De Berry
We reveal a book that was revolutionary in its day for embracing images of the current times instead of the Bible or the past. "Les Tres Riches Heures d Duc de Berry," the fifteenth century's most famous illuminated manuscript, became renowned for its miniature calendar paintings of contemporary scenes.

Roof Thatching
For those who eschew the modern look, a thatched roof is the ultimate period accessory. We see how the modern world has given new generations of craftsmen the chance to build upon old traditions.

The Scold's Bridle
A scold was defined as a woman who was quarrelsome or who gossiped. These things could be criminal offenses. The punishment for being a scold often included wearing the scold's bridle, a grotesque contraption usually made of iron and fitted over the head.

York's Merchant Adventureers' Guild Hall
Completed in 1357, the Great Hall of the Company of Merchant Adventurers of the City of York is the largest timber-framed building in the UK still standing and used for its original purpose. The well-cured oak beams have incredible strength, which explains why the Great Hall has lasted for 650 years.

Town Criers
In the Middle Ages and Renaissance, town criers were ubiquitous public service broadcasters. Announcing everything from market days and lost dogs to new taxes and public executions, for centuries criers were the public's main source of news and current affairs. We take you to meet t hose stalwart men who are keeing the tradition alive.

Full Metal Thrones
We'll meet Tom Ossner and Stiles Thissell, who watched "The Game of Thrones" and decided to make their own throne of solid steel. The resulting Sword Throne is seven feet tall, with 266 blades and 72 hilts.

The Villages of Alsace
Journey with us to the rolling green vineyards at the foot of northeastern France's Vosges Mountains, where a collection of immaculately preserved little villages hide five centuries' worth of history and expert winemaking in their colorful Renaissance-era half-timbers. Dotting Alsace's rural Route du Vin, marvelously authentic village like Riquewihr, Kayserberg, Eguisheim, and Hunawihr have happily defied the onslaught of time.