From the Assize of Nuisance [a sort of small claims court] February 10, 1301:
William de Béthune (Betonia) complains that the cess-pit of the privy (puteum cloace) of William de Gartone adjoins so closely his stone wall that the sewage penetrates his cellar (celarium). The def. [defendant] says that he and his ancestors have been seised of the privy in question time out of mind, and prays that the assize do nothing in prejudice of his free tenement. The pl. [plaintiff] says that long seisin contrary to the statute ought not to prejudice his case. After adjournment the assize comes upon the land on Fri. 3 Mar. 1301, and it is adjudged that within 40 days the def. remove his cess-pit 2½ ft. of masonry (de petra) from the pl.'s wall.
Image: I did an image search for "medieval cess pit" and that's what I found -- a medieval cess pit. Somebody lost this pretty antler comb down it in the 10th-12th century.
I'm trying to imagine the conversation:
"Oh no! My pretty antler comb has fallen into the cess pit!"
"Well reach in and grab it!"
"I'm not going to reach in and grab it, YOU reach in and grab it!!... where are you going with crossbow and battle axe?!"
"To get you another pretty antler comb".
Posted by: Pixie | April 04, 2008 at 08:49 PM
My thoughts exactly. That's why it's been in the pit for a thousand years.
Posted by: gail | April 04, 2008 at 09:01 PM
LOL! Wonder what "they'll" be saying about ours in a thousand years...
...yikes! I'm sorry. Let's not go there...
Posted by: Pixie | April 04, 2008 at 09:38 PM
The bottom end looks a lot like a nit comb.
Posted by: gail | April 04, 2008 at 10:20 PM
That's what I thought! God forbid we ever have to see another one of those combs (though I'm sure we will...she's only 8. (I'm all itchy now, tyvm). I remember you posted some pictures of very elaborate "flea catchers" at one time... it's interesting that parasites were a daily nuisance and the means for eradicating them were incorporated into jewelry or, in this case, combs...
I'm wondering if the owner of the comb got so freaked out by the louse that she/he threw it into the toilet (cess pit) and walked away doing the "heebie jeebie"... I've done that. LOL!
Posted by: Pixie | April 04, 2008 at 11:43 PM
Did cesspool pretrial discovery motions stipulate the assize that comes on the land?
Posted by: JWebb | April 05, 2008 at 12:42 AM
the answer is, "NO!" and thank you for asking?
right?
Posted by: Pixie | April 05, 2008 at 02:05 AM
I wouldn't be a bit surprised.
Posted by: gail | April 05, 2008 at 10:44 AM