In the cold European winters, bed warmers were a welcome comfort. The pan itself was made of brass or copper, and filled with hot coals, had a long wooden handle so it could be pushed under the covers of the bed into the position of the feet. If the bed was dry, the pan had to be constantly moved so it would not scorch the sheets, but this was not always a problem as sometimes the bedding was damp. The pan assisted in drying out the bed clothes.Some warming pans had patterns marked out in piercing to the lids, which also allowed the heat to escape.Although metal and ceramic hot bottles haad been in use since the 16th century, it was the invention and subsequent widepread popularity of the rubber hot water bottle in 1903 that led to the demise of the bed warmer.
FAQs
A bed warmer or warming pan was a common household item in countries with cold winters, especially in Europe. It consisted of a metal container, usually fitted with a handle and shaped somewhat like a modern frying pan, with a solid or finely perforated lid.
How did people heat their beds in the old days? ›
Popular from the 17th to the 19th century, bed warmers were copper or brass pans with long handles that could be filled with heated rocks. The lid had holes to help disperse the heat from the baked rocks so when the pan was slid between two layers of bedding, the bed would be heated thoroughly.
What is the history of bed warming pans? ›
The pan would have been filled with hot embers from the fire and placed under the bedclothes to heat and air the bed. The earliest known example of a warming pan was made in 1616. In the 17th century, the pan would have been a valuable family possession and would have been handed down the generations.
How did copper bed warmers work? ›
This bed-warming pan functions along the same lines as my electric blanket. Warmed stones, coals or smoldering ashes from a fire would have once filled this pan. The hinged lid is punctured by a decorative pattern of holes that allow oxygen to feed the coals and keep them hot.
How old are bed warmers? ›
Containers for warmth in bed were in use as early as the 16th century. The earliest versions contained hot coals from the dying embers of the fire, and these bed warmers were used to warm the bed before getting into it.
Were bed warmers safe? ›
Burns and fires are a risk, though today's blankets are much safer than their early predecessors. Since the late 1980s, electric bedding in the U.S. has been designed to emit much less heat (older models put out higher wattages and contributed to household fires and other problems).
How did bed warmers not burn the bed? ›
Hot embers are dropped on to the trivet, which stands on a sheet-iron tray. Anther sheet of iron is fixed to the woodwork above the fire, so there is no danger of burning the bed.
How did Victorians keep warm in bed? ›
Thus, cast iron or ceramic bed warmers were slipped under the covers; bed drapes or canopies were hung around the bed, and Victorian sleepers might wear a nightcap—like that worn by Charles Dickens' character Ebeneezer Scrooge. All these helped keep Victorians warm during the night—and could be just as useful today.
How did bed pans work? ›
A bedpan is smaller, since it is placed in the bed and positioned under the person for use. Bedpans can have lids, but most do not, as they are immediately emptied or disposed of after use. Bedpans have a long single handle that can double as a spout, either for urine entry or for emptying after use.
What is a copper bed pan? ›
Warming pans, often made of copper, would be filled with embers or hot coals and placed between the bedsheets. The long extended handle made it easy to move the warming pan between the bedsheets to keep warm.
A warming pan like this would have been filled with hot coals from the kitchen range and placed in the bed to warm it up. It would then be removed before sleeping. Image: © Colne Valley Museum.
When were bed pans used? ›
Early heavy weights. Bedpans in the 16th and 17th century were made of glazed earthenware. In later years, pewter, brass, pottery, glass, porcelain, and enamel also were used to make bedpans and urinals.
How did people warm their beds in the 1800s? ›
Families in the 1700s and 1800s relied on fire to heat their living spaces. Even so, cold drafts were a problem most winter nights. This tool was useful for warming cold sheets on a freezing cold night. Hot ashes from the fireplace are placed in the copper pan, which then is run between the covers.
How did they heat beds in the 1800s? ›
That unattractive and unadorned piece of stone was what many people used to warm their beds at night and oftentimes would be used to warm their feet while out and about in a sleigh or buggy. The soapstone bed warmer was in favor in the mid-1800s and gradually grew out of favor around the turn of the century.
What does a human bed warmer do? ›
The bed-warmer is equipped with a thermometer to measure the bed's required temperature of 20 degrees Celsius (68 Fahrenheit). Holiday Inn said the warmer would be fully dressed and leave the bed before the guest occupied it.
What is the function of bed warmer? ›
With a bed warmer, you can turn your furnace thermostat down — to not only save energy — but also to gain a cooler sleep environment. Sinus Problems Relief – A lower temperature bedroom decreases dry sinuses, while a bed warmer keeps your body cozy and warm.
What were bed warmers in Victorian times? ›
Before central heating was invented, houses were often cold and damp in the winter. The warming pan was used in beds not only to warm them, but also to try to get rid of some of the damp. The pan was filled with hot charcoal or ashes and then pushed into the bed.
