Warming pans, bed wagons, bed warmers with coals or wood (2024)

Warming pans: heating the bed with embers from the fire

Warming pans, bed wagons, bed warmers with coals or wood (1)Hanging a warming pan near the hearth is not just a decorator's idea. The fireplace was always a sensible place for it, so it could easily be filled with glowing coals or wood embers before being taken away to warm the bed.

Warming pans, bed wagons, bed warmers with coals or wood (2) Using a hot stone or brick heated at the fireside is one way of carrying warmth from the hearth into bed. By the 16th century people were also taking pans filled with smouldering fuel from the fire itself. The well-known brass or copper warming pan on a handle was not the only way of doing this. There were also wooden frames designed to hold pots of fuel inside the bedclothes. (See lower down the page)

A warming pan, sometimes known as a bed warmer nowadays, was a valuable family possession handed down from generation to generation, but not so expensive that it was only for the rich. If you were very wealthy you might have a silver one, or a richly decorated copper warmer. Some of the most ornate warming pans have an elaborate pattern of perforations incorporated in the design.

But not all warming pans had pierced patterns. This difference would have been crucial for the servant or housewife using the pan. With air holes, the embers would keep smouldering, the heat would last longer, but the bed would probably smell of fumes and there was an increased risk of scorching the sheets. The smell was not always of wood or coal; in some parts of the UK it was burning peat.

Warming pans, bed wagons, bed warmers with coals or wood (3) In 19th-century England fully enclosed warming pans seem to have been popular: cleaner perhaps, but the heat would have died down more quickly. Some warming-pans with solid lids were used with hot water. Others were completely open like this unlidded warming pan from the French Alps.

Warming pans on a handle were designed for moving up and down the bed before someone got into it. The handle wasn't always lined up to make it easy to hang on the wall. Some warmers, in Italy or southern France, for instance, were more saucepan-shaped.

A copper warming pan is indispensable to a household. Take care to have a big enough quantity of embers, above all some red cinders, when you want to heat a bed. Get it smouldering well before you use it, otherwise the fire will soon go out and the bed will not warm up. You must move the warming pan constantly to avoid scorching the sheets. A bed-wagon (moine), well-known and inexpensive, is a suitable alternative.
Cora Millet-Robinet, Domestic Economy, 1853 (translated loosely from the French)

Frames to hold pots of coals: bed wagons

Warming pans, bed wagons, bed warmers with coals or wood (4) If you didn't want to stand in a cold bedroom moving the warming pan up and down, you might possibly have a bed wagon. This was a large frame designed to hold a pot of glowing fuel in the centre of the bed. The one in the photograph is shaped like other bed wagons from southern England, but made of oak, rather than the more common ash.

An odd-looking contrivance, generally in use in farms in the olden days, was the bed-waggon. It is used for warming a large bed, and must have done its work most efficiently. The one shown [see photo] is three feet long, but they were generally larger. The woodwork is all of oak, the bent hoops passing through the straight rails, which are tied together with round rods. The whole thing is light and strong. A pan of hot embers drops into the trivet, which stands on a sheet-iron tray. Another sheet of iron is fixed under the woodwork above the fire, so that there is no danger of burning the bed.
Gertrude Jekyll, Old West Surrey, 1904

Warming pans, bed wagons, bed warmers with coals or wood (5) The equivalent in Italy and France looked more like a sledge than a wagon: a sledge carrying a pot of glowing charcoal or wood, sometimes hanging from the top of the frame. This pot could be iron, brass or even earthenware, lidded or unlidded. Unlidded pots might be given a layer of ashes over the fuel. Italian and French bed-wagon frames are traditionally called a monk (moine or monaco) or a priest. Presumably there's some kind of people-in-bed humour there, in the same vein as the English joke about a housemaid being a "Scotch warming pan". Explanations vary.

The photo left shows one moine propped up by the wall, and the one below shows it with another moine and an assortment of warming pans near a big kitchen fireplace in a French castlet: the Chateau de Puyguilhem in the Dordogne.

When Charles Dickens' character Mr. Pickwick called a long-handled brass warming-pan "a useful, and...a comforting article of domestic furniture", he touched on all the snug cosiness we associate with being tucked up in a warm bed. Not everyone approves of warm, comfortable beds, though. Rather like those people who criticised warm feather beds, one 18th century doctor disliked warming pans, though he thought hot sand was a helpful alternative to embers for anyone who could not bear a cold bed:

Warming pans, bed wagons, bed warmers with coals or wood (6)

People in health ought never to have their beds warmed; not only because the fumes of the coals are in some degree noxious, but because warmth thus applied enervates the body. [...] If, however, invalids and sick persons cannot from custom dispense with bed warming, one or two quarts of sand, made red hot in an iron pot, and put into the warming pan, will be void of all offensive smell.....
Dr. James Makittrick Adair, Essays on Fashionable Diseases: the dangerous effects of hot and crowded rooms, c1790

Warming pans, bed wagons, bed warmers with coals or wood (7) 31 October 2007 (updated June 2011)


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Warming pans, bed wagons, bed warmers with coals or wood (2024)

FAQs

What did they use to warm beds in the old days? ›

Early warmers were made of silver, copper or brass and looked similar to this warmer from the Hanscome family. According to Annie Hanscome, the bed warmer was used by her maternal grandparents, Dr. and Mrs.

How do you warm up a bed before getting in? ›

Seven ways to keep your bed warm this winter
  1. Flannel Sheets. Cotton and silk sheets are nice, but they won't keep you warm in the frigid weather. ...
  2. Electric Blanket. ...
  3. Multiple Layers of Bed Dressings. ...
  4. Electric Mattress Pad. ...
  5. Hot Water Bottle. ...
  6. Space Heater. ...
  7. Bed Tent.

Is a professional bed warmer a thing? ›

To ensure that beds are warm and cosy for the arrival of guests, some hotels employ bed warmers who don special, hygienic sleepsuits and act as human waterbottles.

How did the pioneers stay warm at night? ›

Pioneer families often slept close to the fireplace on exceptionally cold nights, for if they failed to do so, they literally risked freezing to death. Log cabins commonly had dirt floors that were covered with a thin rug, and when the ground outside froze, so did the dirt floor beneath the pioneers' feet.

How did Victorians warm their beds? ›

Similar to the foot warmers, bed warmers were made of metals (copper being a common one) with holes punched strategically over the top. Each warmer had a lid and was attached to a long wooden pole. This pole allowed the front to be slid around under the covers of the entire bed to warm it up before use.

Can you sleep with the bed heater on? ›

According to doctors, falling asleep with the heating on can result in a restless night's sleep as our bodies can overheat much more quickly. As well as not being able to sleep soundly, it may also be causing our skin to appear dry, red and itchy the following morning.

How long does a bed warmer take to heat up? ›

With a soft plush feel your pet will happily curl up with their bed warmer. You simply heat the pad in the microwave until soft and squishy, usually about 4-5minutes.

How much electricity does a bed warmer consume? ›

The blanket has a power supply of 220 to 250 volts with a wattage of 200 watts. It consumes 2 units of electricity and can be used to upto 20 hours at a stretch.

Should I leave heating on all night in freezing weather? ›

Leave your heating on overnight at a lower temperature to keep the condensate warm. Although this uses energy, your boiler will take less time to heat up your home in the morning. Set your boiler thermostat to a higher temperature. This will use more energy and so reduce the amount of condensate.

What is the fastest way to warm up? ›

Go for a walk or a jog. If it's too cold outside, hit the gym, or just do some jumping jacks, pushups, or other exercises indoors. Not only will it warm you up, it helps build and keep your muscles, which also burn calories and make body heat.

Why do hotel beds feel so good? ›

Hotels beds are incredibly comfortable thanks to their use of mattress toppers. These can significantly adjust mattress firmness and the quality of your rest. A mattress topper is simply an added layer of cushioning that rests on top of your old mattress and provides support and extra levels of comfort.

How much do you get paid to be a professional bed warmer? ›

Professional Bed Tester Salary
Annual SalaryHourly Wage
Top Earners$101,500$49
75th Percentile$69,000$33
Average$55,804$27
25th Percentile$31,500$15

How much do human bed warmers make? ›

Bed warmer: You won't find a more unusual job than a human bed warmer, where someone pays you to get in a bed and warm it up for them. Evidently, some people hate the idea of jumping into a nice, clean, fresh bed and having to withstand 30 seconds or so of being cold. The pay for a human bed warmer can top $200,000.

How did Native Alaskans stay warm? ›

A strategy that holds true to this day: to stay warm, dress in layers. Many traditional clothes were made from caribou skin, with the fur still on for warmth. On the inner layers, the fur would face in and on the outer layers it would face out, providing the wearer ultimate warmth.

How did slaves stay warm in the winter? ›

To keep warm at night, precautions were taken in the bedchambers. The enslaved chambermaids would add a heavy wool bed rug and additional blankets to the beds for the winter months. In the Chesapeake region, rugs were often imported from England and were especially popular in the years before the Revolution.

How did people stay warm in Stagecoaches? ›

Carriages and conveyances were unheated, and many people sat outside exposed to the elements. A footwarmer and fur blanket over layered winter clothing helped to stave off the cold for those who could afford such luxuries, but most people had to bundle up and deal with the weather as it came.

How did poor Victorians keep warm? ›

While coal-filled and ash-filled bed warmers were very popular, there was always the potential risk of fire. A safer and more portable option was the hot-water bed warmer or hot-water bottle. A classic for centuries, the hot-water bottle is a simple and effective way to keep warm at night.

How did people keep warm in the 1930s? ›

Those who were able to afford a “comfortable” shelter were fortunate to have homes that were heated by coal-burning furnaces. These were often located in the basem*nt of homes, close to an outside wall where coal could be fed directly into the furnace via a stoker.

How did people stay warm in the 50s? ›

Most people had a coal fire in the living room and that was all. If it was very cold, people lit the gas oven and left the oven door open to provide a little heat in the kitchen. The front room and bedrooms often had fireplaces but it was too wasteful and expensive to have fires in them on a daily basis.

What is the safest heater to leave unattended? ›

Safest space heater overall

The Vornado MVH Vortex heats your room safely and efficiently. It has a number of safety features, including a cool-touch exterior and automatic shut-off for overheating and tip-overs. The MVH Vortex has three heat settings and a built-in thermostat.

Can a heated bed be too hot? ›

Heated Bed: Bad Signs

Just be careful not to heat up your bed too much, otherwise your prints might end up with elephant's foot (as seen in the photo). Elephant's foot occurs when the bed of the printer is too hot, which melts the first couple layers of the print, but the weight of the print smooshes them down.

Why you shouldn't sleep with the heater on? ›

Sleeping with the heater on increases the levels of carbon monoxide in the room above the safe level. People with heart disease may get chest pain, while smokers with heart disease are particularly at risk, so are young children and elderly. The risk of asphyxia (sleep death) is high when using gas heaters.

Are bed warmers healthy? ›

Heated blankets are regular blankets that contain wires within that heat them up. They may pose a risk for fires and burns. They may also be more dangerous for infants, elderly people, diabetics, pregnant women and those who have nerve disorders.

How can I heat my bed without an electric blanket? ›

Six alternatives to electric blankets
  1. 1 - Heated throws. Heated throws are a great alternative to electric blankets and will keep you just as warm. ...
  2. 2 - Wool duvets. ...
  3. 3 - Weighted blankets. ...
  4. 4 - Warm duvets. ...
  5. 5 - Mattress toppers. ...
  6. 6 - Mattress protectors. ...
  7. Warm pyjamas. ...
  8. Flannel bed linen.
Oct 20, 2022

Why are my bed sheets so cold? ›

The surfaces of a slept-in sheet are not so smooth, due to having been slept upon. Hence, they make less contact with the skin. Thus, less body heat is transferred to the slept-in sheet. It's called BSHT (or body-to-sheet heat transference).

Is a heated blanket cheaper than heating? ›

Overall, it's cheaper to run an electric blanket per month. However, this doesn't take into consideration the costs of keeping the radiators on overnight or using an electric heater all day. It's best to consult your energy tariffs and to get advice on how to cut down how much you use your heating appliances.

What is the cheapest way to heat a room using electricity? ›

Electric heaters

If you have a small room that you want to heat quickly, then an electric heater should do the job. These are generally light and portable, so can be moved from room to room if needed.

Are heated throws cheap to run? ›

Electric blankets and throws are actually very economical – costing from as little as 5p per hour to run, especially when you compare them with the cost of keeping your central heating on for hours or heating rooms you're not actually using.

How do you keep a poorly insulated house warm? ›

With drafty doors, windows and poorly insulated rooms, the cold can be inevitable. So what's a homeowner to do?
  1. Close Your Curtains.
  2. Keep Items Away From the Radiator.
  3. Draft-Proof Your Doors.
  4. Install Radiator Panels.
  5. Insulate Hot Water Pipes.
  6. Try Soapstone Heaters.
  7. Designate a Heating Room.
Oct 1, 2020

How can I keep my bed warm at night? ›

Top Tips on Keeping Warm in Bed – Save Energy
  1. Wear pyjamas. ...
  2. Get a memory foam mattress. ...
  3. Choose a suitable mattress tog. ...
  4. Layer up with a flat sheet. ...
  5. Get a thick duvet cover (flannelette) ...
  6. Heat your bed with a heated mattress topper. ...
  7. Heat your bedroom cheaply with an electric radiator. ...
  8. Plug draughts and insulate your bedroom.
May 30, 2022

How cold should you let your house get at night? ›

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends indoor temperatures of at least 64°F (you can drop that down to 62°F at night if you're really looking to save on your heating bill). But if you have infants, sick or elderly people in your household, then it's recommended that you keep the thermostat set at 70°F.

What is the healthiest temperature to keep your house in the winter? ›

The ideal thermostat temperature in the winter is 68 degrees Fahrenheit when you're at home. Energy.gov suggests that 68 degrees is a good room temperature while you're awake at home but recommends lowering it while you're asleep or away.

What is the lowest temperature to keep house in winter? ›

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends setting your thermostat no lower than 64 degrees (F) in the Winter months while people are in the home. If there are infants or elderly individuals, they recommend keeping the temperature at 70 degrees at a minimum.

Why are elderly always cold? ›

Increased cold sensitivity is a normal part of aging, but it can also be a sign of a health problem. Older adults have a thinner layer of fat under the skin, making them more susceptible to cold. Conditions like diabetes, peripheral artery disease and kidney disease can restrict blood flow and lower body temperature.

What is the most effective warm-up? ›

Try a simple, gentle warmup for 5 to 10 minutes before you begin stretching. This can consist of a brisk walk, light jog, or jumping jacks to get your muscles warm and your heart pumping. Stretching can be done on its own or before or after athletic activity.

How do you warm-up in extreme cold? ›

Warm small areas of the body by:
  1. Blowing warm air onto cold hands.
  2. Tucking hands or feet inside warm clothing next to bare skin. ...
  3. Cupping cold ears with warm hands.
  4. Putting cold hands, feet, or ears in warm water [ 40°C (104°F) to 42°C (108°F)] for 15 to 30 minutes.

Why are hotel sheets white? ›

White sheets are one effective way for hotels to prove their standards of cleanliness. Much like how the wealthy used to wear all white to show that they could afford to keep it clean, hotels use all white linens to show luxury. (Although, admittedly, even less luxurious hotels use white sheets.)

How to make a bed like a five star hotel? ›

How to Make Your Bed at Home Feel Like a Five-star Hotel Bed
  1. Stick to white linens.
  2. Always go with the highest thread count possible.
  3. Don't use a fitted sheet.
  4. Use a down comforter with a cotton duvet.
  5. More is more when it comes to pillows.
  6. Go with a featherbed.
  7. Sleep on a quality mattress.
  8. Warm up your lighting.
Sep 15, 2017

Why do Chinese people like hard beds? ›

Firm Beds. Most people in China prefer to sleep on a firm mattress, claiming it is better for their backs. They believe the back remains properly aligned, with no sinkage throughout the night, if it is well supported.

What is a female bed warmer? ›

Confused what it means? Well, simple, she warms the bed on cold winter nights before you sleep on it. Of course, who likes crashing into a chilly bed. According to a report by the Mirror, UK, 21-year-old, Viktoria Ivachyova, charges £65 per night or £1,350 per month for her bizarre service.

How much do professional sleepers make? ›

How much does a Professional Sleeper make? As of Dec 1, 2022, the average annual pay for a Professional Sleeper in the United States is $60,222 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $28.95 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,158/week or $5,018/month.

What can I put on my bed to make it warmer? ›

Seven ways to keep your bed warm this winter
  1. Flannel Sheets. Cotton and silk sheets are nice, but they won't keep you warm in the frigid weather. ...
  2. Electric Blanket. ...
  3. Multiple Layers of Bed Dressings. ...
  4. Electric Mattress Pad. ...
  5. Hot Water Bottle. ...
  6. Space Heater. ...
  7. Bed Tent.

How do you make a super warm bed? ›

One of the easiest ways to warm a bed is to choose a duvet with a higher tog value. As a rule of thumb, the higher the duvet tog, the warmer and thicker the duvet filling will be to enjoy a cosy nights sleep. For a warm and cosy bed, we recommend a duvet between a 13.5 and a 15 tog.

What is inside the bed warmer? ›

The electric bed warmer is a combination of soft and comfortable blanket material and coil wires embedded inside it to provide warmth. The blanket material is usually made of acrylic and polyester, a mixture of which prevents any fire hazards.

How did they heat beds in the 1800s? ›

A brass bed warmer filled with hot coals or embers would have been run between the linen sheets to take off the chill. The bed curtains were drawn closed each night to provide the sleeper with some protection from cold drafts.

When were bed warmers first used? ›

Castle, History

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.

How they kept warm in the 1800s? ›

People wore layered clothing made of wool, flannel, or fur. Typical winter outerwear included hooded capes, great coats, scarves, cloaks, shawls, scarves, muffs, gloves, mittens, thick socks, stockings, long wraps, caps, hats, and ear mufs.

What did cavemen use for blankets? ›

There, she discovered 77,000-year-old bedding made from grass-like plants called sedges. "The sedges had medicinal plants on them, presumably laid there to serve as an insect deterrent," Wadley wrote in an email. "I was fascinated by the idea that early hom*o sapiens would have had such knowledge."

What is the oldest form of heating? ›

The earliest form of heating (about 1.5 million years ago) was a campfire, around which ancient humans gathered for warmth and cooking. The fire slowly moved indoors with a central fire and a central roof opening for smoke to escape.

How did people heat their homes in the 1940s? ›

But the old ways were still the most popular: According to the U.S. Census, 75 percent of homes still used wood or coal as their primary heating fuel in 1940.

How did people stay warm in colonial times? ›

In addition to keeping active, people wore thick layers of woolen clothing and often slept in them along with flannel night shirts and caps on the coldest nights. Most people, including the wealthy, went to bed in unheated bed chambers.

What is an old fashioned bed warmer called? ›

The soapstone foot warmers were simply placed near the fire before bedtime and allowed to heat up. They were heated to the point that they could be touched to pick up, but not be able to be held for any length of time.

How did ancient people stay warm in winter? ›

Other than having a fire, people had animal heat to depend on. Most peasants would have their animals barn close to their living spaces because the animals close together kept it fairly warm., enough to prevent any freezing. Families would all sleep close together to share each other's body heat.

How did medieval people keep warm in winter? ›

People wore extra-warm clothes inside and, when possible, stayed by the fire. Woollen coats, scarves and mittens were common. Some lined their winter clothes with fur. Although fur is often associated with luxury clothing, peasants are believed to have lined their winter clothes with rabbit and lamb.

How did cavemen keep warm in winter? ›

When the first humans migrated to northern climates about 45,000 years ago, they devised rudimentary clothing to protect themselves from the cold. They draped themselves with loose-fitting hides that doubled as sleeping bags, baby carriers and hand protection for chiseling stone.

Why do some adults still have security blankets? ›

Adults may also use comfort objects. Many adults consider the comfort that security blankets provide as essential to their mental and emotional well-being.

What is an Eskimo blanket? ›

Eskimo blankets - these luxury plaids are soft and soft. They are made from lambswool by the traditional Swiss company Eskitex. The classic, elegant blankets and bedspreads are made from a lot of natural hair. A large selection and colors and designs make the cozy blankets a beautiful accessory for an urban inventory.

What did humans sleep on before beds? ›

Poor citizens in this time typically only slept on piles of hay or leaves that were placed directly on the ground rather than elevated in what was called a bed box. It wasn't until the 12th century that beds became more decorative.

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