Shakespeare A to Z | Personal Hygiene
Among the most common misconceptions about Elizabethan life are those that involve matters of personal hygiene. For example, it is a popular myth that Queen ELIZABETH I never bathed. In truth she bathed every two weeks and even took a portable bathtub with her when she traveled. Although the queen bathed more often than most people did, many Elizabethans took personal cleanliness seriously and used several methods to ensure good hygiene.
Baths were usually taken in a large wooden tub, which was placed before the fireplace for warmth. Taking a bath was considered a luxury by most of the...
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