Strewing Herbs

Part of the purpose of a medieval and Elizabethan garden was to provide the household with strewing herbs. In medieval dwellings floors were carpeted with rushes, reeds or straw, for insulation and to provide bedding for members of the lower household. They also served to soak up spillages and dropped food. However, these floor coverings were only cleaned out and replaced once or twice a year, so to counteract the accumulated odours fragrant herbs were scattered (strewn) on top of them, releasing their scents when they were walked upon. Some of these herbs also acted as insect and pest repellants.

The Dutch traveller Levimus Leminius, whilst visiting England in 1560 wrote in his diary:

“Their chambers and parlours strawed over with sweet herbes refreshed mee; their nosegays finely intermingled with sundry sorts of fragraunt floures, in their bed chambers and privy rooms with comfortable smell cheered me up and entirely delygted all my senses.”

Quote from A History of Gardening by Alicia Amherst

In preparation for Petruchio’s return the servant Grumio says:

“Where's the cook? is supper ready, the house

trimmed, rushes strewed, cobwebs swept,”

- The Taming of the Shrew, Act IV, Scene I

Thomas Tusser in his 1557 instructional poem Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandrie, lists these strewing herbs.

Basil

Chamomile

Costmary
Cowslips

Daisies

Fennel
Germander
Hyssop
Lavender
Lemon Balm
Marjoram
Maudeline
Mints
Pennyroyal
Roses

Sage 

Savory

Tansy

Violets

Other herbs included Rosemary, Rue, Wormwood, Sweet Woodruff and Meadowsweet. With regards to Meadowsweet, John Gerard said that Queen Elizabeth “did more desire it than any other herb to strew her chambers withal.”

Herbal strewings continued to be used until the eighteenth century.