What are some good websites for medieval jobs?

Question

I'm writing a fantasy book and want to be as accurate as possible with my characters occupations. I'm serious and need a good site that not only gives the name and a single line describing what the job is. I need details of the job like how it was done and what was used and such. Specifically that of a fletcher, but I'd like others as well. Can anyone help me out?

Answer 1

Most lists on the web are very general. The following, while listing fewer occupations go into a bit more detail on each:
http://members.tripod.com/hkcarms/occ.html
http://www.medievaltravel.co.uk/jobs/index.html (some unusual jobs!)
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Hall/1170/chaucerhtml/women.html

Since you asked specifically about this occupation -- a bit on the work of medieval fletchers:
http://www.fletcher-family.co.uk/C13th%20Fletchers.htm


Something you might try - look through one of these longer lists (with brief job descriptions), choose the occupations that interest you and do a web search with a pattern like "medieval apothecary" (quotes probably unnecessary)
http://www.svincent.com/MagicJar/Economics/MedievalOccupations.html
http://www.obcgs.com/occupations.html

Here, incidentally, is something ON the medieval apothecary:
http://www.locs.org/hserule/apothecary.html

Answer 2

I have found some references for you.

A fletcher made arrows.

In a castle, around which most activities took place, there were:

Steward or Seneschal - in charge of the castle when the lord was away. Had to know about everything: accounting, law, personnel
Chamberlain - in charge of the Great Hall or Chamber
Marshall - in charge of the stables
Butler or Bottler - made sure there was enough drink in the buttery
Chandler - made candles
Cook - oversaw the kitchen, with scullions, etc
All these had their own staff
Blacksmiths - very important
Craftsmen: cobblers (shoes); armorers; coopers (made casks); hoopers (helped coopers make the barrels); billers (made axes); spencers (who dispensed).
The garrison - knights, squire, porter (to watch the door), guards, watchmen, men-at-arms/yeomen
http://www.castles-of-britain.com/castle33.htm

Craftsmen:
http://library.thinkquest.org/10949/fief/hicraft.html
Scroll down a bit here, and there is a glossary of artisans and craftsmen:
http://www.lima.ohio-state.edu/people/dburks//craft_guilds_by_profession.htm
http://www.castles.me.uk/medieval-occupations.htm

Jobs:
http://library.thinkquest.org/4051/ibksmth1.htm
http://library.thinkquest.org/4051/ibksmth3.htm
Glossary of people:
http://www.themiddleages.net/people_middle_ages.html
More information:
http://library.thinkquest.org/4051/infolist.htm
http://library.thinkquest.org/4051/map.htm

I think I've probably given you too much... but the sites are pretty good! You may have to research each job specifically for more information.

Answer 3

Do major Internet research and call history institutions and museums. The people there are very nice and always glad to help. The best way to start is to find out where this specific job was originally made and then go from there.